-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, St15HNJhSnSvsD8oiKFArSUmEoSOgUh36U7ARw4nv/FSu8wbl2V+Fgt2NU7C3tyI dI9/rMqXEw/AIjm4a9RFmw== 0001193125-03-057373.txt : 20031002 0001193125-03-057373.hdr.sgml : 20031002 20031002175502 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-03-057373 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: F-4 PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 15 FILED AS OF DATE: 20031002 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: ARAUCO & CONSTITUTION PULP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001004156 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: PULP MILLS [2611] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: F-4 SEC ACT: 1933 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 333-109422 FILM NUMBER: 03925269 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: EL GOLF NO 150 STREET 2: 14TH FL. CITY: SANTIAGO STATE: F3 ZIP: 00000 BUSINESS PHONE: 5626981961 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: EL GOLF NO 150 STREET 2: 14TH FL CITY: SANTIAGO STATE: F3 ZIP: 00000 F-4 1 df4.htm FORM F-4 Form F-4
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2003.

 

Registration No. 333-


 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

 

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM F-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Under

The Securities Act of 1933

 


 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Arauco and Constitution Pulp Inc.

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Republic of Chile   Not Applicable

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

  (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 


 

Avenida El Golf 150

Santiago, Chile

(562) 461-7200

(Address and telephone number of

Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 


 

CT Corporation System

111 Eighth Avenue

New York, New York 10011

(212) 894-8940

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

Copies of communications to:

 

David L. Williams, Esq.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

425 Lexington Avenue

New York, New York, 10017

(212) 455-2000

 


 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:    As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement and the satisfaction or waiver of all other conditions to the exchange offer described in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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

 

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

 


 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 


Title of each class of Securities to
be Registered


  

Amount to be
Registered


  

Proposed Aggregate
Offering Price Per Note


  

Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering Price (1)


  

Amount of

Registration Fee


5.125% Notes due 2013

   $300,000,000    100%    $300,000,000    $27,600

 

(1)   Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended based on the aggregate principal amount of the 5.125% Notes due 2013, which is the class of securities that is the subject of this exchange offer.

 


 

The Registration hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registration shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 



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The Information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated October 2, 2003

 

Preliminary Prospectus

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(acting through our Panamanian agency)

 

US$300,000,000

 

Offer to Exchange All Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

For an Equal Principal Amount of

5.125% Notes due 2013

Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

 


 

The Exchange Offer

  

The Exchange Notes

•      We will exchange all outstanding notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn for an equal principal amount of exchange notes that are freely tradeable.

 

•      You may withdraw tenders of outstanding notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

 

•      The exchange offer expires at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, unless extended. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date.

 

•      The exchange of outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax, Panamanian tax law or Chilean tax law purposes.

 

•      We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

  

•      The exchange notes are being offered in order to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement entered into in connection with the placement of the outstanding notes.

 

•      The terms of the exchange notes to be issued in the exchange offer are substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will be freely tradeable.

 

Resales of Exchange Notes

 

•      The exchange notes may be sold in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or through a combination of such methods. We do not plan to list the exchange notes on a national market.

 


 

If you are a broker-dealer and you receive exchange notes for your own account, you must acknowledge that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. By making such acknowledgment, you will not be deemed to admit that you are an underwriter under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Act. Broker-dealers may use this prospectus in connection with any resale of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after the expiration of the exchange offer or until any broker-dealer has sold all registered notes held by it, we will make this prospectus available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. A broker dealer may not participate in the exchange offer with respect to outstanding notes acquired other than as a result of market-making activities or trading activities. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

If you are an affiliate of ours or are engaged in, or intend to engage in, or have an agreement or understanding to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes, you cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and you must comply with the registration requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

 


 

You should consider carefully the risk factors beginning on page 11 of this prospectus before participating in the exchange offer.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The date of this prospectus is October     , 2003


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page

Where You Can Find Additional Information

   i

Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference

   ii

Enforceability of Civil Liabilities

   iii

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

   iv

Presentation of Financial Data

   v

Summary

   1

Risk Factors

   11

Use of Proceeds

   16

Exchange Rates

   17

Exchange Controls in Chile

   19

Capitalization

   20

Selected Consolidated Financial Data

   21

Recent Financial Information

   23

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   32

The Exchange Offer

   33

Description of the Exchange Notes

   43

Taxation

   56

Plan of Distribution

   60

Legal Matters

   61

Independent Accountants

   61

Annual Report on Form 20-F for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2002

   62

Index to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements

   F-i

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We are subject to the information reporting requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and, in accordance therewith, file reports and other information with the SEC. We file annual reports on Form 20-F, which commencing with our Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002, include annual audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with US GAAP, as well as reports on Form 6-K containing our quarterly Chilean GAAP unaudited consolidated financial statements and certain other information. These reports and other information can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Section of the SEC at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional office of the SEC located at 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of these materials can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the SEC at 450 Fifth Street N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549, and its public reference facility in Chicago, Illinois. Such material may also be accessed electronically by means of the SEC’s home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov). As a foreign private issuer, we are exempt from certain provisions of the Securities Exchange Act, including those prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy and information statements and certain periodic reports.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the debt securities offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all the information contained in the registration statement. We have omitted certain items from the prospectus as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For more information with respect to us and the debt securities offered, refer to the registration statement, including the accompanying exhibits, financial statements, schedules and notes. You may inspect the registration statement without charge at the principal office of the SEC in Washington, D.C. and copies of all or part of it may be obtained from the SEC upon payment of the prescribed fee. Statements made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any document referred to herein are not necessarily complete. The exhibits accompanying any document referred to in this prospectus are essential for a more complete description of the matter involved.

 

We will file with the trustee, within 15 days after we are required to file the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports, as the SEC may from time to time require, or

 

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that we may be required to file as a “foreign private issuer” (as defined in Rule 3b-4 under the Securities Exchange Act) with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act. If we are not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of those Sections, then we will file with the trustee and the SEC, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, any supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act relating to a security listed and registered on a securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

We are incorporating by reference certain information we filed with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We include herein and incorporate by reference our annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002, as filed with the SEC on June 27, 2003.

 

All reports on Form 20-F filed by us with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act and, to the extent expressly stated therein, certain reports on Form 6-K subsequent to the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the notes in respect of which this prospectus is delivered shall also be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus from the date of filing of such documents. Any statements contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or attached as an annex hereto shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement or documents so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

We will provide without charge to you, upon your written or oral request, a copy of any or all the documents we incorporate by reference (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Written requests for such copies should be directed to:

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

Avenida El Golf 150, Fourteenth Floor

Santiago, Chile

Attention: Matías Domeyko

 

Telephone requests may be directed to Mr. Matías Domeyko at (562) 461-7200.

 


 

This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any exchange notes offered hereby in any jurisdiction where, or to any person to whom, it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The information contained in this prospectus speaks only as of the date of this prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies. No dealer, salesperson or other person has been authorized to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in connection with the offer contained herein and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances create an implication that there has been no change in our affairs or that of our subsidiaries since the date hereof.

 

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ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES

 

We are a sociedad anónima abierta, a public corporation organized under the laws of Chile. All but one of our directors and executive officers, and certain experts named or mentioned in this or other documents incorporated by reference herein, reside outside the United States (principally in Chile). All or a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of these persons are located outside the United States. As a result, except as described below, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons or us, or to enforce against them or against us in United States courts a judgment obtained in United States courts based upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. We have been advised by our Chilean counsel, Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla, that no treaty exists between the United States and Chile for the reciprocal enforcement of foreign judgments. Chilean courts, however, have enforced judgments rendered by courts in the United States by virtue of the legal principles of reciprocity and comity, subject to review in Chile of such judgment in order to determine whether certain basic principles of due process and public policy have been respected, without reviewing the merits of the subject matter of the case. Nevertheless, we have been advised by our Chilean counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability, in original actions in Chilean courts, of liabilities predicated solely upon the federal securities laws of the United States and as to the enforceability in Chilean courts of judgments of United States courts obtained in actions based upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. In addition, it will be necessary for investors to comply with certain procedures, including payment of stamp taxes (currently assessed at a rate of 1.608% of the face value of a debt security), in order to file a lawsuit with respect to the notes in a Chilean court.

 

We have appointed CT Corporation System as our authorized agent upon whom process may be served in any action arising out of or based upon the indenture or the issuance of the notes. With respect to such actions, we have submitted to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court having subject matter jurisdiction in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, New York. See “Description of the Notes.”

 

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some of the information included in this prospectus and the documents we have incorporated by reference contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act and are intended to come within the safe harbor protection provided by those sections. We use words such as “believe,” “expect” and “anticipate” and similar expressions, that identify forward-looking statements which reflect our views about future events and financial performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Actual results could differ materially and adversely from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors that may be beyond our control, including but not limited to:

 

    our ability to service our debt, fund our working capital requirements and comply with financial covenants in certain of our debt instruments;

 

    our ability to fund and implement our capital expenditure programs;

 

    the maintenance of relationships with customers;

 

    a change in control relating to our company;

 

    the effects on us from competition;

 

    future demand for forestry and wood products in our export markets;

 

    international prices for forestry and wood products;

 

    the condition of our forests;

 

    the state of the Chilean, Argentine and world economies and manufacturing industries;

 

    the relative value of the Chilean peso compared to other currencies;

 

    inflation;

 

    increases in interest rates; and

 

    changes in our regulatory environment, including environmental regulations.

 

In any event, these statements speak only as of their dates, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

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PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL DATA

 

For Chilean statutory reporting purposes, we prepare our annual audited consolidated financial statements and our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with Chilean GAAP. For SEC reporting purposes under the Securities Exchange Act, we prepare our annual audited consolidated financial statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial statement in accordance with US GAAP. Our interim consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus are unaudited; however, such information reflects all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for the fair presentation of our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the interim period.

 

The US dollar is our functional currency, as most of our financial activities, including approximately 86.4% of our sales for the year ended December 31, 2002, are transacted in dollars.

 

As such, for purposes of preparing our financial statements in accordance with US GAAP, we translated our historic accounting records into dollars in accordance with FASB No. 52 “Foreign Currency Translation,” SFAS 52. SFAS 52 provides that when an entity’s records are not expressed in its functional currency, its financial statements must be remeasured into its functional currency. Historical exchange rates between the currency in which the books and records are maintained and the functional currency are used to remeasure nonmonetary items. Monetary accounts are remeasured at the current rate at the balance sheet date. Revenues and expenses are translated using average exchange rates for the period, except for items related to nonmonetary assets and liabilities (e.g., cost of sales, depreciation, and amortization of intangibles), which are translated using historical exchange rates. All translation gains and losses are included in determining income during periods in which exchange rates change.

 

Unless otherwise specified, all references to “$,” “US$,” “US dollars” and “dollars” are to United States dollars, references to “Chilean pesos” or “Ch$” are to Chilean pesos, references to “UF” are to Unidades de Fomento, a daily indexed Chilean peso-denominated monetary unit that takes into account the effect of the Chilean inflation rate, and references to “Argentine pesos,” “AP$” or “A$” are to Argentine pesos.

 

For your convenience, we have included translations of Chilean and Argentine peso amounts into US dollars at specified rates. Unless otherwise indicated, the US dollar equivalent for information in Chilean pesos is based on the observed exchange rate reported by Banco Central de Chile, the Central Bank of Chile, which we refer to as the Central Bank. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not report a noon buying rate for Chilean or Argentine pesos. On December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003, the observed exchange rate for Chilean pesos was Ch$718.61 = US$1.00 and Ch$699.12 = US$1.00, respectively. On December 31, 2002 and June 30, 2003, the exchange rate for Argentine pesos was A$3.37 = US$1.00 and A$2.80 = US$1.00, respectively. You should not construe these translations as representations that the Chilean or Argentine peso amounts actually represent such dollar amounts or could be converted into dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rate. See “Exchange Rates.” Unless otherwise specified, references to the devaluation or the appreciation of the Chilean peso against the US dollar are in nominal terms (without adjusting for inflation) based on the observed exchange rates published by the Central Bank for the relevant period.

 

When we refer to “Chile” or the “Republic” in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference, we mean the Republic of Chile, and when we refer to the “Government” we mean the government of the Republic of Chile. All references to “tons” are to metric tons (1,000 kilograms) which are equal to 2,204.6 pounds. One “hectare” equals 10,000 square meters or 2.471 acres. Percentages and certain amounts in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference have been rounded for ease of presentation. Any discrepancies in any table between totals and the sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

 

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SUMMARY

 

This summary highlights the information contained elsewhere in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and may not contain all of the information you need to consider. Please read the following summary, together with the information set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” and in the financial statements and accompanying notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. “Arauco,” “we,” “us” and words of similar effect refer, depending upon the context, to Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., to one or more of its consolidated subsidiaries or to all of them taken as a whole, unless the context otherwise requires.

 

About Arauco

 

We are Chile’s largest forest plantation owner, holding approximately 541,283 hectares of radiata pine plantations and 65,999 hectares of eucalyptus plantations in Chile, and were Chile’s largest exporter of forestry and wood products in terms of sales revenue based on information for the year ended December 31, 2002. We believe that we were one of the world’s largest producers of bleached and unbleached softwood kraft market pulp in terms of production in 2002, based on information published by Resource Information Systems, Inc., an independent research company for the pulp and paper industry. Based on this information, we believe that in 2002 we had a share of total world production of market bleached and unbleached pulp of approximately 5.4% and 16.6%, respectively. “Market pulp” is pulp sold to manufacturers of paper products, as opposed to pulp produced by an integrated paper producer for use in its paper production facilities. “Kraft pulp” is pulp produced using a chemical process.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2002, we harvested 9.7 million cubic meters of sawlogs and pulplogs and exported approximately 1,786,643 cubic meters of forestry and wood products, including sawlogs, sawn timber (green and kiln dried lumber), remanufactured wood products and panels (plywood, medium-density fiberboard and high-density fiberboard). Export sales constituted approximately 86.4% of our sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002. We were Chile’s largest non-mining exporter in terms of sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002. Our principal export markets are Asia, Western Europe and the United States.

 

As of December 31, 2002, our planted forests in Chile consisted of approximately 88.7% radiata pine, with the balance primarily of eucalyptus. Radiata pine has a rapid growth rate and a short harvest cycle compared to other commercial softwoods. Radiata pine is sufficiently versatile for both the production of forestry and wood products as well as the production of long fiber pulp for sale to manufacturers of paper and packaging. We seek to manage our forestry resources so that the annual growth of our forest is equal to or higher than the volume harvested each year. In 2002, we planted approximately 27,529 hectares and harvested approximately 18,875 hectares in Chile. We believe that a long-term sustainable equilibrium will be reached in the latter part of this decade with annual harvests of approximately 33,000 hectares.

 

Pulp. We own and operate three pulp mills in Chile and one in Argentina, with an aggregate annual production capacity of approximately 1,580,000 metric tons. The three pulp mills in Chile (including the Licancel Mill acquired in 1999 for US$126 million) produced 869,276 metric tons of bleached pulp and 354,135 metric tons of unbleached pulp in 2002. The pulp mill in Argentina, which we own through our consolidated subsidiary Alto Paraná, manufactures bleached softwood kraft market pulp in Argentina and sells it in Argentina and to the export market. In 2002, this facility produced 322,770 metric tons of pulp.

 

Wood Products. We own eleven sawmills in Chile and one in Argentina with an aggregate annual production capacity of 2,510,000 cubic meters of lumber. We own five remanufacturing facilities that reprocess sawn timber into remanufactured wood products such as moldings, jams and pre-cut pieces that end users require for doors, furniture and door and window frames. These facilities produced 919,753 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products in 2002.

 

Plywood and Fiberboard Panels. We own and operate one plywood mill, one high-density fiberboard mill and two medium-density fiberboard mills in Chile and one medium-density fiberboard mill in Argentina. The total annual production capacity of these mills is approximately 1,045,000 cubic meters of plywood and fiberboard panels. During 2002, our plywood mill produced a total of 310,122 cubic meters of plywood, our high-density

 


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fiberboard mill produced a total of 58,636 cubic meters of fiberboard panels and our medium-density fiberboard mills produced a total of 226,802 cubic meters of fiberboard panels.

 


 

Our principal executive offices are located at Avenida El Golf 150, Fourteenth Floor, Santiago, Chile, telephone (562) 461-7200.

 

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The Exchange Offer

 

On July 9, 2003, we completed the private offering of the outstanding notes. References to the “notes” in this prospectus are references to both the outstanding notes and the exchange notes. This prospectus is part of a registration statement covering the exchange of the outstanding notes for the exchange notes.

 

We entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers in the private offering in which we agreed to deliver to you this prospectus as part of the exchange offer and we agreed to complete the exchange offer within 270 days after the date of original issuance of the outstanding notes. You are entitled to exchange in the exchange offer your outstanding notes for exchange notes that are identical in all material respects to the outstanding notes except the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act; and the exchange notes are not entitled to registration rights and liquidated damages that are applicable to the outstanding notes under the registration rights agreement.

 

The Exchange Offer

   We are offering to exchange up to US$300.00 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Notes due 2013, which we refer to in this prospectus as the exchange notes, for up to US$300.00 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Notes due 2013, which we refer to in this prospectus as the outstanding notes. The exchange offer is being made with respect to all of the outstanding notes. Outstanding notes may be exchanged only in integral multiples of US$1,000.

Resale of the Exchange Notes

   Based on an interpretation of the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission set forth in no action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that exchange notes issued pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for outstanding notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by you (unless you are an affiliate of ours, within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the exchange notes are acquired in the ordinary course of your business and you have not engaged in, do not intend to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the exchange notes.
     Each participating broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activity must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes.
     Any holder of outstanding notes who:
     ·    is an affiliate of ours;
     ·    does not acquire exchange notes in the ordinary course of business; or
     ·    tenders in the exchange offer with the intention to participate, or for the purpose of participating, in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

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     cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated or similar interpretive letters and, in the absence of an exemption therefrom, must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with the resale of the exchange notes. See “The Exchange Offer—Resales of the Exchange Notes.”

Expiration Date; Withdrawal of Tender

   The exchange offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, or such later date and time to which we extend it, the expiration date. We do not currently intend to extend the expiration date. Tenders of outstanding notes pursuant to the exchange offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the expiration date. Any outstanding notes not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offer—Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments” and “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders.”

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

   The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which we may waive. Please read carefully the section captioned “The Exchange Offer—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” of this prospectus for more information regarding the conditions to the exchange offer.

Procedures for Tendering Outstanding Notes

   If you wish to accept the exchange offer, you must complete, sign and date the accompanying letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal according to the instructions contained in this prospectus and the letter of transmittal. You must also mail or otherwise deliver the letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal, together with the outstanding notes and any other required documents, to the exchange agent at the address set forth on the cover page of the letter of transmittal. If you hold outstanding notes through The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, and wish to participate in the exchange offer, you must comply with the Automated Tender Offer Program procedures of DTC, by which you will agree to be bound by the letter of transmittal. By signing, or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal, you will represent to us that, among other things:
     ·    any exchange notes that you receive will be acquired in the ordinary course of your business;
     ·    you have no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in a distribution of the exchange notes;
     ·    if you are a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for your own account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities, that you will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of the exchange notes; and

 

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     ·    you are not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours or, if you are an affiliate of ours, you will comply with any applicable registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.
     See “The Exchange Offer––Procedures for Tendering.”

Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners

   If you are a beneficial owner of outstanding notes that are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender the outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you should contact that registered holder promptly and instruct that registered holder to tender on your behalf. If you wish to tender on your own behalf, you must, prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and delivering your outstanding notes, either make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder. The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be able to be completed prior to the expiration date. See “The Exchange Offer––Procedures for Tendering.”

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

   If you wish to tender your outstanding notes and your outstanding notes are not immediately available or you cannot deliver your outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal or any other documents required by the letter of transmittal or comply with the applicable procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program prior to the expiration date, you must tender your outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in this prospectus under “The Exchange Offer––Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

Effect on Holders of Outstanding Notes

   As a result of the making of, and upon acceptance for exchange of all validly tendered outstanding notes pursuant to the terms of the exchange offer, we will have fulfilled a covenant contained in the registration rights agreement and, accordingly, there will be no increase in the interest rate on the outstanding notes under the circumstances described in the registration rights agreement. If you are a holder of outstanding notes and you do not tender your outstanding notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to hold the outstanding notes and you will be entitled to all the rights and limitations applicable to the outstanding notes in the indenture, except for any rights under the registration rights agreement that by their terms terminate upon the consummation of the exchange offer.
     To the extent that outstanding notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer, the trading market for outstanding notes could be adversely affected.

 

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Consequence of Failure to Exchange

   All untendered outstanding notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer provided for in the outstanding notes and in the indenture. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than in connection with the exchange offer, we do not currently anticipate that we will register the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. See “The Exchange Offer — Consequences of Failure to Exchange.”

Taxation

   The exchange of the outstanding notes for the exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer will not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax, Panamanian tax law or Chilean tax law purposes. See “Taxation.”

Use of Proceeds

   We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer.

Exchange Agent

   JPMorgan Chase Bank is serving as exchange agent in connection with the exchange offer. The address and telephone number of the exchange agent are set forth in the section captioned “The Exchange Offer––Exchange Agent” of this prospectus.

 

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The Exchange Notes

 

Issuer

   Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through our Panamanian agency.

Notes Offered

   US$300 million in an aggregate principal amount of 5.125% notes due 2013.

Maturity

   July 9, 2013.

Interest Payment Dates

   January 9 and July 9 of each year, commencing on January 9, 2004.

Optional Redemption

   We may redeem the exchange notes in whole or in part, at our option, at any time and from time to time at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined herein) discounted to the date of redemption on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 25 basis points, together with, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.”

Tax Redemption

   We may redeem the exchange notes in whole, but not in part, at any time if the laws or regulations affecting taxes in Panama or Chile change in certain respects. See “Description of the Notes—Redemption for Taxation Reasons.”

Material Covenants

   The indenture under which the exchange notes will be issued contains covenants, including limitations on liens and limitations on sale and leaseback transactions.

Ranking

   The exchange notes will be unsecured obligations of Arauco and will, other than with respect to obligations given preferential treatment pursuant to the laws of Chile, at all times rank pari passu in right of payment with all of our other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The exchange notes will not have the benefit of any collateral securing any of our existing and future secured indebtedness and will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of any of our subsidiaries to the extent of the assets of each subsidiary.

Taxation

   Payments of interest in respect of the exchange notes made by us acting through our Panamanian agency and all payments of principal in respect of the exchange notes will not be subject to Chilean or Panamanian withholding tax. However, in the event that we make payments of interest in respect of the exchange notes, directly from Chile to a foreign holder of the exchange notes, those payments will be subject to a 4% Chilean withholding tax. Subject to certain exceptions, we will pay any of those additional amounts. See “Description of the Notes—Payment of Additional Amounts” and “Taxation.”

Further Issues

   We may from time to time without the consent of holders of exchange notes issue further securities having the same terms and conditions as the exchange notes so that the further issue is consolidated and forms a single series of notes with the exchange notes offered in this prospectus.

Governing Law

   Our contractual rights and obligations and the rights of the holders of the exchange notes arising out of, or in connection with, the indenture and the exchange notes are governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Absence of a Public Market for the Notes

   The exchange notes generally will be freely transferable but will also be new securities for which there will not initially be a market. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the development or liquidity of any market for the

 

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     exchange notes. We do not intend to apply for a listing of the exchange notes on any security exchange or automated dealer quotation system. The initial purchasers in the private offering of the outstanding notes have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the exchange notes. However, they are not obligated to do so, and any market-making activities with respect to the exchange notes may be discontinued without notice.

Exchange Controls in Chile

   The issuance of the notes does not require prior authorization by the Chilean Central Bank. Nevertheless, certain financial terms of the notes have been registered with the Chilean Central Bank after the issuance of the notes.

Trustee

   JPMorgan Chase Bank is the trustee under the indenture.

 

For a discussion of risks that should be considered in connection with an investment in the exchange notes, see “Risk Factors.”

 

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Summary Consolidated Financial Data

 

The following tables present our summary consolidated financial data in accordance with US GAAP as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing in this prospectus and information included in documents that we have incorporated by reference.

 

The consolidated financial data as of June 30, 2003 and for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 has been derived from our unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated financial data at December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 has been derived from our audited financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 20-F. The consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and for the year ended December 31, 1999 has been derived from audited financial data that has not been included in this prospectus. Audited information prepared in accordance with US GAAP as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 is not available. Accordingly, the selected data in accordance with US GAAP presented below as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 has been derived from our unaudited US GAAP financial data which was prepared by us by converting into US dollars and US GAAP information contained in our Chilean GAAP audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998.

 

Our unaudited data for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 includes all normal and recurring adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for the fair presentation of such information. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2003 or for any other period.

 

    As of or for the year ended December 31,

    As of or for the six months
ended June 30,


 
    1998(1)

    1999(1)

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2002

    2003

 
    (in thousands of US$, except ratios, shares and per share data)    

Unaudited

(in thousands of US$,
except ratios, shares
and per share data)

 

US GAAP

                                                       

Income Statement Data

                                                       

Sales revenue

  US$ 870,192     US$ 1,089,928     US$ 1,260,342     US$ 1,173,826     US$ 1,188,018     US$ 561,295     US$  664,308  

Cost of sales

    (556,830 )     (595,086 )     (604,130 )     (689,837 )     (620,464 )     (321,170 )     (335,394 )

Depreciation

    (107,970 )     (105,053 )     (106,576 )     (119,796 )     (103,885 )     (53,453 )     (54,226 )

Administration and selling expenses

    (76,553 )     (88,207 )     (102,701 )     (94,047 )     (100,515 )     (36,271 )     (54,885 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Operating income

    128,839       301,582       446,935       270,146       363,154       150,401       219,803  

Interest income

    16,009       14,723       12,563       14,794       21,995       12,180       12,435  

Other income (expense)

    11,023       15,493       5,151       (3,871 )     1,513       1,666       5,682  

Foreign exchange gains (losses)

    1,399       (2,578 )     (5,070 )     (26,058 )     11,668       22,382       28,588  

Interest expenses

    (76,008 )     (51,526 )     (62,201 )     (62,362 )     (61,692 )     (33,732 )     (23,624 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income before taxes, minority
interest and equity from earnings
of unconsolidated affiliates

    81,262       277,694       397,378       192,649       336,638       152,897       242,884  

Provision for income taxes

    (6,640 )     (6,419 )     (55,552 )     (12,956 )     (52,578 )     (24,029 )     (39,413 )

Minority interest in consolidated
subsidiaries

    (2,099 )     (43 )     (2,051 )     (225 )     (267 )     (158 )     (144 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated
affiliates

    1,141       4,829       1,377       1,463       2,558       1,094       1,759  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

    73,664       276,061       341,152       180,931       286,351       129,804       205,086  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Dividends paid

    20,290       47,105       193,353       67,610       71,702       32,934       66,263  

Balance Sheet Data

                                                       

Forests

    960,392       1,040,871       1,078,394       1,167,462       1,188,013       1,127,329       1,226,830  

Property, plant and equipment, net

    1,500,981       1,573,001       1,639,293       1,653,466       1,851,240       1,729,674       2,024,297  

Total assets

    3,213,397       3,347,920       3,550,989       3,899,257       4,110,336       3,907,080       4,321,634  

Total long-term liabilities

    1,242,587       1,200,709       1,242,645       1,711,740       1,570,080       1,657,213       1,671,189  

Total stockholders’ equity

    1,495,359       1,707,433       1,832,108       1,974,785       2,157,665       1,997,002       2,282,254  

Other Financial Data

                                                       

Capital expenditures(2)

    148,752       257,202       263,588       223,831       330,804       115,221       246,113  

Depreciation

    107,970       105,053       106,576       119,796       103,885       53,453       54,226  

Number of shares

    113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446  

Net income per share

    0.65       2.44       3.01       1.60       2.53       1.15       1.81  

Dividends per share

    0.18       0.42       1.71       0.60       0.63       0.29       0.59  

 

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Cash Flow Data

                                          

Total operating cash flow

   183,091     510,159     417,353     (55,692 )   481,651     157,977     231,580  

Total cash flow arising from financing activities

   (125,169 )   (231,230 )   34,268     238,453     (124,566 )   (71,948 )   44,110  

Total cash flow arising from investing activities

   (51,646 )   (206,409 )   (405,342 )   (224,154 )   (330,362 )   (94,037 )   (257,985 )

(1)   In 2000, we acquired 97.5% of the outstanding shares of Forestal Cholguán S.A. of which 85.8% were acquired from our indirect controlling shareholders and were considered to be an exchange of ownership interests between companies under common control. As such, the financial information presented above for the years 1999 and 1998 has been adjusted to incorporate the historical value of the assets, liabilities and profit and loss accounts as if the combination had taken place as of January 1 of each year.
(2)   Accrued for the period. See Note 13 of our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 6 of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Prior to making an investment in our exchange notes, you should carefully consider, in light of your own financial circumstances and investment objectives, all the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and, in particular, should evaluate the following risk factors.

 

Risks Relating to Us and the Forestry Industry

 

Fluctuations in market price for our products could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations

 

Prices for pulp, forestry and wood products, like those of other commodities, can be expected to fluctuate significantly. Our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if the price of pulp or other forestry products were to decline significantly from current levels. The prices that we are able to obtain for pulp products and, to a lesser extent, other forestry products depend on:

 

    prevailing world prices, which historically have been subject to significant fluctuations over relatively short periods of time, depending on worldwide demand;

 

    world production capacity;

 

    the business strategies adopted by other major forestry, pulp and paper producers; and

 

    the availability of substitutes.

 

All of these factors are beyond our control. For example, as an indication of the cyclicality of pulp products’ prices, the average price per metric ton (CIF) for Norscan bleached softwood kraft market pulp (pulp produced in Canada and Northern Europe sold to manufacturers of paper products delivered in Northern Europe) was US$520 in 1999, rose to US$681 in 2000, fell to US$539 in 2001 and fell again to US$460 in 2002.

 

Worldwide competition in the markets for our products could adversely affect our business and results of operations

 

We experience substantial worldwide competition in each of our geographical markets and in each of our product lines. Several of our competitors are larger than we are and have greater financial and other resources. The market pulp industry is highly competitive and also sensitive to changes in industry capacity, producer inventories and cyclical changes in the world’s economies, any of which may significantly affect the selling prices of our products and thereby our profitability. Increased competition could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We depend on free international trade as well as economic and other conditions in our principal export markets

 

During 2002, export sales accounted for approximately 86.4% of our total sales revenue. During this period approximately 35.9% of our export sales were to Europe, 33.3% to Asia, 15.4% to Central and South America and 12.8% to North America. As a result, our results of operations depend to a significant degree on economic, political and regulatory conditions in our principal export markets. Our ability to compete effectively in our export markets could be materially and adversely affected by a number of factors beyond our control including a deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, exchange rate volatility, government subsidies, or the imposition of increased tariffs or other trade barriers. If our ability to sell our products competitively in one or more of our significant export markets were impaired by any such developments, it might be difficult to re-allocate our products to other markets on equally favorable terms, and our financial condition and results of operations might be adversely affected.

 

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The application of environmental regulations could adversely affect our development goals and our results of operations

 

We are subject to numerous national and local environmental laws concerning, among other things, health and the handling and disposal of waste and discharge into the air and water. Chilean environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent in recent years, particularly in connection with the approval of new projects, and this trend is likely to continue. We have made, and expect to continue to make, substantial expenditures to comply with such environmental requirements.

 

Among other Chilean environmental legislation, we are subject to Ley No. 19,300 Sobre Bases Generales del Medio Ambiente, the Chilean Environmental Law. Under the Chilean Environmental Law, we are required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may affect the environment. The regulations also establish procedures for private citizens to object to the plans or studies submitted by project owners. Future developments in the establishment or implementation of environmental requirements, or in the interpretation of such requirements, could result in substantially increased capital, operating or compliance costs or otherwise adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our activities in Argentina are subject to Argentine environmental legislation including regulation by municipal, provincial and federal governmental authorities. Our Argentine subsidiary Alto Paraná has incurred and expects to continue to incur capital and operating expenditures to comply with applicable environmental requirements. Changes in environmental laws, or the interpretation thereof, may require it to incur significant unforeseen capital or operating expenditures to comply with such requirements. The occurrence of such events could have an adverse effect on Alto Paraná’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We and other pulp and forest product companies around the world are periodically subject to adverse effects from unfavorable market perceptions of the environmental impact of our operations. Also, given the possibility of unanticipated regulatory or other developments, including more stringent environmental laws, the amount and timing of our future environmental compliance expenditures could vary substantially from their current levels. These changes could limit the availability of our funds for other purposes.

 

Fire or disease could affect our forests and manufacturing processes and in turn adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations

 

Our operations are subject to various risks affecting our forests and manufacturing facilities, including fire and disease. Although in the past the forestry industries in Chile and Argentina have not been affected significantly by certain pests and diseases afflicting radiata or taeda pine plantations in other parts of the world, such pests or diseases may appear in Chile or Argentina in the future. Our operations and, as a result, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of such risks were to be realized.

 

Risks Relating to Chile

 

Chilean political and economic conditions have a direct impact on our business and the market price of the notes

 

A substantial portion of our assets and operations is located in Chile. In 2002, approximately 10.6% of our sales revenue was derived from sales in Chile. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations are to a considerable extent dependent upon economic conditions prevailing from time to time in Chile. Future developments in the Chilean economy could adversely affect our financial condition or results of operations and may impair our ability to proceed with our strategic plan of business.

 

The Chilean government has exercised and continues to exercise a substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector, and has changed monetary, fiscal, taxation and other policies to influence the course of Chile’s economy. We have no control over, and cannot predict, how such intervention and government policies will affect the Chilean economy and, both directly and indirectly, our operations and revenues. Our operations, financial condition and the market price of the notes may be adversely affected by changes in policy involving exchange controls, tax and other matters, as well as factors such as:

 

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    fluctuation in exchange rates;

 

    inflation or interest rate fluctuations; and

 

    other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Chile.

 

Changes in inflation as measured by changes in the official consumer price index and as reported by the Instituto Nacional de Estadisticas, the Chilean National Institute of Statistics, may also adversely affect our operations, financial condition and the market price of the notes. Inflation rates in Chile were 2.6%, 2.8% and 1.5% in 2001, 2002 and the first half of 2003, respectively.

 

Risks Relating to Argentina

 

The economic crisis in Argentina may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations

 

As of December 31, 2002, approximately 18.6% of our consolidated assets were located in Argentina and in 2002 approximately 12.8% of our net sales were derived from Alto Paraná. Accordingly, our financial condition and results of operations to a certain extent are dependent upon political and economic conditions prevailing in Argentina. Since 1999, the Argentine economy has been in an economic recession marked by reduced levels of consumption and investment and an elevated unemployment rate. The Argentine gross domestic product decreased by 3.4% in 1999, 0.8% in 2000, 4.4% in 2001 and 10.9% in 2002.

 

The current Argentine economic crisis may have an adverse effect on our Argentine operations, including Alto Paraná’s ability to raise capital, and as a result, its overall financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Argentine government has exercised, and continues to exercise, a significant influence over many aspects of the Argentine economy. Accordingly, Argentine government actions, whether taken to address the current economic crisis or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the Argentine economy and private sector companies, including Alto Paraná.

 

Argentine Central Bank restrictions on the transfer of funds outside Argentina may impose an obstacle to Alto Paraná’s ability to transfer money abroad

 

We guarantee some of Alto Paraná’s debt. Since December 2001 the Central Bank of Argentina has imposed a number of significant monetary and currency exchange restrictions that limit the free disposition of funds deposited in Argentine banks and transfers of funds abroad. If Alto Paraná is unable to transfer funds abroad, we may be obligated to pay under our guarantees.

 

Beginning in February 2002, some transfers of funds outside of Argentina require the approval of the Central Bank of Argentina. On March 25, 2002, the Central Bank of Argentina placed further restrictions on the transfer of funds abroad by requiring the approval of the Central Bank of Argentina for some payments outside Argentina, including approval of both principal and interest payments on financial debt. The Central Bank of Argentina began to ease these restrictions in December 2002. Effective January 2, 2003, approval of the Central Bank of Argentina is no longer required for interest payments made outside Argentina. In addition, principal payments made outside Argentina are permitted without the approval of the Central Bank of Argentina under certain conditions.

 

There can be no assurance that the Central Bank of Argentina will not reverse its position and once again restrict payments in the future, which could impose material obstacles to Alto Paraná’s ability to transfer money abroad.

 

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Risks Relating to Other Markets

 

Our business, earnings and prospects may be adversely affected by developments in other countries which are beyond our control

 

Our business and results of operations are to a large extent dependent on the level of economic activity, government and foreign exchange policies, and political and economic developments in our principal export markets. In 2002, approximately 94.5% of our total pulp sales and approximately 78.2% of our total forestry, wood products and panels product sales were attributable to exports, principally to customers in Asia, the Americas and Western Europe. Our business, earnings and prospects may be materially and adversely affected by developments with respect to inflation, interest rates, currency fluctuations, protectionism, government subsidies, price and wage controls, exchange control regulations, taxation, expropriation, social instability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in these export markets. We have no control over such conditions and developments. Further, such conditions and developments may adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or the price of or market for the notes.

 

Developments in other emerging markets may adversely affect the market price of the notes

 

The market price of the notes may be adversely affected by declines in the international financial markets and world economic conditions. Chilean securities markets are, to varying degrees, influenced by economic and market conditions in other emerging market countries, especially those in Latin America. Although economic conditions are different in each country, investors’ reactions to developments in one country can affect the securities markets and the securities of issuers in other countries, including Chile. Since the fourth quarter of 1997, the international financial markets have experienced volatility. Developments in other countries have also at times adversely affected the market price of our notes. If the current economic situation in Argentina continues to deteriorate, or if similar developments occur in the international financial markets in the future, the market price of the notes could be adversely affected.

 

Risks Relating to the Exchange Offer and Notes

 

If you choose not to exchange your outstanding notes, the present transfer restrictions will remain in force and the market price of your outstanding notes could decline

 

If you do not exchange your outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer, then you will continue to be subject to the transfer restrictions on the outstanding notes as set forth in the offering memorandum distributed in connection with the private offering of the outstanding notes. In general, the outstanding notes may not be offered or sold unless they are registered or exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. You should refer to the section of the prospectus entitled “The Exchange Offer” for information about how to tender your outstanding notes.

 

The tender of outstanding notes under the exchange offer will reduce the principal amount of the outstanding notes, which may have an adverse effect upon, and increase the volatility of, the market price of the outstanding notes due to reduction in liquidity.

 

You must comply with the exchange offer procedures in order to receive freely tradable exchange notes

 

Delivery of the exchange notes in exchange for the outstanding notes tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the exchange offer will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of the following:

 

    Certificates for the outstanding notes or a book-entry confirmation of a book-entry transfer of the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, as a depository, including an agent’s message, as defined in this prospectus, if the tendering holder does not deliver a letter of transmittal;

 

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    A completed and signed letter of transmittal, or facsimile copy, with any required signature guarantees, or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an agent’s message in place of the letter of transmittal; and

 

    Any other documents required by the letter of transmittal.

 

Therefore, holders of the outstanding notes who would like to tender the outstanding notes in exchange for exchange notes should be sure to allow enough time for the outstanding notes to be delivered on time. We are not required to notify you of defects or irregularities in tenders of outstanding notes for exchange. Outstanding notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but we do not accept for exchange will, following consummation of the exchange offer, continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and will no longer have the registration and other rights under the registration rights agreement. See “The Exchange Offer––Procedures for Tendering.”

 

Some holders who exchange their outstanding notes may be deemed to be underwriters and these holders will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements in connection with any resale transaction

 

If you exchange your outstanding notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities. If you are deemed to have received restricted securities, you will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

 

The non-payment of funds by our subsidiaries could have a material and adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and ability to service our debt, including the notes

 

Our cash flow and our ability to service debt is dependent in part on the cash flow and earnings of our subsidiaries and the payment of funds by those subsidiaries to us in the form of loans, interest, dividends or otherwise. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due under the terms of the notes or to make any funds available for such purpose. Furthermore, claims of creditors of such subsidiaries, including trade creditors of such subsidiaries, will have priority over our creditors, including holders of the notes, with respect to the assets and cash flow of such subsidiaries. Our right to receive assets of any of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the holders of notes to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors.

 

Changes in tax laws could lead to our redeeming the notes

 

We may redeem the notes prior to maturity if a change in Chilean or Panamanian tax laws results in us becoming liable to compensate noteholders for certain withholding and other taxes. See “Description of the Notes—Redemption for Taxation Reasons” and “Taxation—Chilean Taxation.”

 

The exchange notes are a new issue of securities for which there is currently no public market; you may be unable to sell your exchange notes if a trading market for the exchange notes does not develop

 

We cannot assure you that an active trading market for the exchange notes will develop or, if a market develops, as to the liquidity of the market. The liquidity of any market for the exchange notes will depend on the number of holders of the exchange notes, the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the exchange notes and other factors. If an active trading market does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the exchange notes may be adversely affected. If the exchange notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending upon prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, general economic conditions, our performance and business prospects and other factors.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the exchange notes. In consideration for issuing the exchange notes as contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive in exchange a like principal amount of outstanding notes, the terms of which are identical in all material respects to the exchange notes. The outstanding notes surrendered in exchange for the exchange notes will be retired and canceled and cannot be reissued. Accordingly, issuance of the exchange notes will not result in any change in our capitalization.

 

The net proceeds to us from the issuance of the outstanding notes was approximately $295.0 million, after deducting discounts, commissions and expenses. The net proceeds from the offering of the outstanding notes have been invested in short term securities and other investments, pending their use to refinance a portion of our outstanding debt and for general corporate purposes.

 

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Table of Contents

EXCHANGE RATES

 

Prior to 1989, Chilean law permitted the purchase and sale of foreign currency only in cases explicitly authorized by the Central Bank. Law No. 18,840, the organic law of the Central Bank of Chile, or the “Central Bank Act,” Ley Orgánica Constitucional del Banco Central de Chile, enacted in 1989, liberalized the rules that govern the ability to buy and sell foreign currency. The Central Bank Act empowers the Central Bank to determine which types of foreign exchange operations must be carried out in the formal exchange market, Mercado Cambiario Formal, rather than the informal exchange market, Mercado Cambiario Informal. The Central Bank has ruled that certain foreign exchange transactions (including those attendant to foreign investments) may be effected only in the formal exchange market. The Central Bank may also impose restrictions on foreign exchange operations that are conducted or are required to be conducted in the formal exchange market. These restrictions may include the requirement of prior authorization from the Central Bank, the imposition of reserve requirements, and the limitation of foreign exchange operations that may be conducted by the entities which participate in the formal exchange market.

 

The formal exchange market consists of banks and other entities authorized by the Central Bank to participate in the formal exchange market. Until the end of 1999 the dólar acuerdo, a reference exchange rate, was an important element in the operation of the formal exchange market. The reference exchange rate is determined taking into account the Canasta Referencial de Monedas, a reference exchange basket, or CRM. The CRM is made up primarily of US dollars as well as euros and Japanese yen. The Central Bank calculates the reference exchange rate daily, taking into consideration internal and external inflation and in accordance with calculations based on a formula which considers, among other factors, variations in parities among the US dollar, the euro and the Japanese yen. Prior to the end of 1999, the formal exchange market functioned on the basis of a foreign exchange band which moved in relation to the referential exchange rate.

 

In September 1999, the Central Bank agreed to suspend its use of the foreign exchange band. Rather, it established that the Central Bank would only intervene in exceptional cases of volatility, through buying or selling foreign exchange. As a result, most operations in the formal exchange market are now made in accordance with the spot exchange rate or, for purposes of closing forward operations, the observed exchange rate. The observed exchange rate, known as the dólar observado, is, for any date, the average exchange rate at which transactions are actually carried out in the formal exchange market on the previous day, as certified by the Central Bank on the following business day. The referential exchange rate is still published, but primarily for reference purposes.

 

The Central Bank is also able to buy or sell foreign currency to banking institutions established in Chile at the price agreed upon by the parties, in accordance with established instructions.

 

Purchases and sales of foreign currency may be effected outside the formal exchange market through the informal exchange market. There are no limits imposed on the fluctuation of the rate of exchange in the informal exchange market above or below the observed exchange rate. We estimate that, since 1991, the year-end rate of exchange for Chilean pesos into dollars on the informal exchange market has fluctuated between approximately 2.0% below and 5.1% above the observed exchange rate. As of June 30, 2003, the rate of exchange for Chilean pesos into US dollars on the informal exchange market was practically the same as the observed exchange rate.

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the annual low, high, average and year-end observed exchange rates for US dollars as reported by the Central Bank. We make no representation that the Chilean peso or the US dollar amounts referred to herein actually represent, could have been or could be converted into dollars or Chilean pesos, as the case may be, at the rates indicated, at any particular rate or at all. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not report a noon buying rate for Chilean pesos. On September 30, 2003, the observed exchange rate was Ch$660.97 = US$1.00.

 

17


Table of Contents
     Observed Exchange Rates of Ch$ per US$1.00

Year


   Low(1)

   High(1)

   Average(2)

   Period-End

1998

   439.18    475.41    460.29    472.41

1999

   468.69    550.93    504.78    530.07

2000

   501.04    580.37    539.49    573.65

2001

   557.13    716.62    634.94    654.79

2002

   641.75    756.56    688.94    718.61

2003

                   

January

   709.22    738.87    722.48    736.15

February

   733.10    755.26    745.21    750.28

March

   725.79    758.21    743.28    731.56

April

   704.42    729.73    718.25    704.42

May

   694.22    714.10    703.58    714.10

June

   697.23    717.40    709.18    699.12

July

   695.82    706.21    701.14    706.21

August

   697.11    713.22    703.77    697.91

September

   655.92    697.57    675.44    660.97

Source: Central Bank

(1)   Exchange rates are the actual high and low, on a day-by-day basis, for each period.
(2)   For the years 1998 through 2002, the average of monthly average rates during the period. For the months ended January through September, the daily average rates during the period.

 

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Table of Contents

EXCHANGE CONTROLS IN CHILE

 

The Central Bank is, among other things, responsible for establishing monetary policy and exchange controls in Chile.

 

Until April 19, 2001, all international bonds issuances by Chilean companies required the prior approval of the Central Bank. Absent such authorization, issuers were not allowed to offer bonds outside of Chile. The regulations imposed restrictions on the type of companies that were entitled to issue bonds abroad and on the bonds themselves, including limitations on the average term of the bonds to be placed internationally.

 

The Compendium of Foreign Exchange Regulations, the Compendium, no longer requires the approval of, or previous registration with, the Central Bank. The proceeds of the international sale of the notes may be brought by us into Chile or held abroad. In either case, however, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Compendium, we must inform the Central Bank of the issuance of notes within ten days following the disbursement of funds to our Panamanian agency, together with the schedule of payments of the notes. We also will be required to inform the Central Bank quarterly of the outstanding amounts due under the notes and from time to time of any information that has been previously filed.

 

Although we have informed the Central Bank of the issuance of the notes, such notification will not guarantee us access to the formal exchange market for the purchase of US dollars to pay amounts due under the notes. Under current Central Bank regulations, we would be permitted to purchase US dollars either in the formal exchange market or in the informal exchange market to make payments in respect of the notes and also would be permitted to purchase US dollars in either the formal exchange market or the informal exchange market to allocate capital to our Panamanian agency. There can be no assurance, however, that we will be able to purchase US dollars at the time or in the amounts required to make payments in respect of the notes. There also can be no assurance that future changes to the foreign exchange control regime in Chile will not restrict or prevent the purchase of US dollars by us.

 

Foreign exchange regulations may be enacted by the Central Bank unilaterally. Although there are currently no foreign exchange regulations or restrictions other than those described in this prospectus, we cannot assure you that new restrictions will not be imposed in the future, nor can we assess the duration or impact of such restrictions, if imposed.

 

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Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

 

The following table sets forth our audited consolidated capitalization as of June 30, 2003, and our audited consolidated capitalization as adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the notes, as if such issuance had occurred as of June 30, 2003. This table should be read in conjunction with our financial statements and the notes to those statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

   

As of June 30,

2003


    Actual

  As
Adjusted


   

(in millions

of US$)

 

(in millions

of US$)

Short-term debt

       

Short-term debt

  0.0   0.0

Current portion of long-term notes

  50.3   50.3

Current portion of bonds

  80.8   80.8
   
 

Total short-term debt

  131.1   131.1
   
 

Long-term debt

       

Long-term notes

  352.2   352.2

Long-term bonds

  1,157.5   1,157.5

5.125% Notes due 2013

  —     300.0
   
 

Total long-term debt

  1,509.7   1,809.7
   
 

Stockholders’ equity

       

Paid-in capital

  363.8   363.8

Retained earnings

  1,918.4   1,918.4
   
 

Total stockholders’ equity

  2,282.3   2,282.3
   
 

Total capitalization

  3,923.1   4,223.1
   
 

 

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SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following tables present our selected consolidated financial data in accordance with US GAAP as of the dates and for each of the periods indicated. This information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our audited and unaudited consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing in this prospectus.

 

The consolidated financial data as of June 30, 2003 and for the six months ended June 30, 2002 and 2003 has been derived from our unaudited interim condensed financial statement included elsewhere in this prospectus. The consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for each of the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000 has been derived from our audited financial statements contained in our annual report on Form 20-F. The consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and for the year ended December 31, 1999 has been derived from audited financial data that has not been included in this prospectus. Audited information prepared in accordance with US GAAP as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 is not available. Accordingly, the selected information in accordance with US GAAP presented below as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 has been derived from our unaudited US GAAP financial data which was prepared by us by converting into US dollars and US GAAP information contained in our Chilean GAAP audited financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998.

 

Our unaudited data for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 includes all normal and recurring adjustments which in the opinion of management are necessary for the fair presentation of such information. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2003 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year ending December 31, 2003 or for any other period.

 

    As of or for the year ended December 31,

   

As of or for the six

months ended June 30,


 
    1998(1)

    1999(1)

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2002

    2003

 
    (in thousands of US$, except ratios, shares and per share data)    

Unaudited

(in thousands of US$,

except ratios, shares

and per share data)

 

US GAAP

                                                       

Income Statement Data

                                                       

Sales revenue

  US$ 870,192     US$ 1,089,928     US$ 1,260,342     US$ 1,173,826     US$ 1,188,018     US$ 561,295     US$ 664,308  

Cost of sales

    (556,830 )     (595,086 )     (604,130 )     (689,837 )     (620,464 )     (321,170 )     (335,394 )

Depreciation

    (107,970 )     (105,053 )     (106,576 )     (119,796 )     (103,885 )     (53,453 )     (54,226 )

Administration and selling expenses

    (76,553 )     (88,207 )     (102,701 )     (94,047 )     (100,515 )     (36,271 )     (54,885 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Operating income

    128,839       301,582       446,935       270,146       363,154       150,401       219,803  

Interest income

    16,009       14,723       12,563       14,794       21,995       12,180       12,435  

Other income (expense)

    11,023       15,493       5,151       (3,871 )     1,513       1,666       5,682  

Foreign exchange gains (losses)

    1,399       (2,578 )     (5,070 )     (26,058 )     11,668       22,382       28,588  

Interest expenses

    (76,008 )     (51,526 )     (62,201 )     (62,362 )     (61,692 )     (33,732 )     (23,624 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income before taxes, minority interest and equity from earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    81,262       277,694       397,378       192,649       336,638       152,897       242,884  

Provision for income taxes

    (6,640 )     (6,419 )     (55,552 )     (12,956 )     (52,578 )     (24,029 )     (39,413 )

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

    (2,099 )     (43 )     (2,051 )     (225 )     (267 )     (158 )     (144 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    1,141       4,829       1,377       1,463       2,558       1,094       1,759  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income

    73,664       276,061       341,152       180,931       286,351       129,804       205,086  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Dividends paid

    20,290       47,105       193,353       67,610       71,702       32,934       66,263  

Balance Sheet Data

                                                       

Forests

    960,392       1,040,871       1,078,394       1,167,462       1,188,013       1,127,329       1,226,830  

Property, plant and equipment, net

    1,500,981       1,573,001       1,639,293       1,653,466       1,851,240       1,729,674       2,024,297  

Total assets

    3,213,397       3,347,920       3,550,989       3,899,257       4,110,336       3,907,080       4,321,634  

Total long-term liabilities

    1,242,587       1,200,709       1,242,645       1,711,740       1,570,080       1,657,213       1,671,189  

Total stockholders’ equity

    1,495,359       1,707,433       1,832,108       1,974,785       2,157,665       1,997,002       2,282,254  

Other Financial Data

                                                       

Capital expenditures(2)

    148,752       257,202       263,588       223,831       330,804       115,221       246,113  

Depreciation

    107,970       105,053       106,576       119,796       103,885       53,453       54,226  

Number of shares

    113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446  

Net income per share

    0.65       2.44       3.01       1.60       2.53       1.15       1.81  

Dividends per share

    0.18       0.42       1.71       0.60       0.63       0.29       0.59  

Cash Flow Data

                                                       

Total operating cash flow

    183,091       510,159       417,353       (55,692 )     481,651       157,977       231,580  

Total cash flow arising from financing activities

    (125,169 )     (231,230 )     34,268       238,453       (124,566 )     (71,948 )     44,110  

 

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Table of Contents
     As of or for the year ended December 31,

    As of or for the six
months ended June 30,


 
     1998(1)

    1999(1)

    2000

    2001

    2002

    2002

    2003

 

Total cash flow arising from investing activities

   (51,646 )   (206,409 )   (405,342 )   (224,154 )   (330,362 )   (94,037 )   (257,985 )

(1)   In 2000, we acquired 97.5% of the outstanding shares of Forestal Cholguán S.A. of which 85.8% were acquired from our indirect controlling shareholders and were considered to be an exchange of ownership interests between companies under common control. As such, the financial information presented above for the years 1999 and 1998 has been adjusted to incorporate the historical value of the assets, liabilities and profit and loss accounts as if the combination had taken place as of January 1 of each year.
(2)   Accrued for the period. See Note 13 of our audited consolidated financial statements and Note 6 of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

RECENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table provides a breakdown of our sales revenue and volumes, cost of sales and selling and administration expenses for the periods indicated below. This unaudited information has been prepared in accordance with US GAAP.

 

     Six months ended June 30,

     2002

   2003

     (in millions of US$, except where indicated)
     US$

    %

    Volume

   US$

    %

    Volume

Sales Revenue:

                                     

Pulp

                                     

Bleached pulp(1)

   US$ 222.6     39.7 %   570.3    US$ 258.5     38.9 %   568.0

Unbleached pulp(1)

     66.3     11.8     182.5      65.7     9.9     168.6

Forestry

                                     

Sawlogs (net)(2)

     8.1     1.4     356.5      7.5     1.1     254.6

Pulplogs(2)

     2.1     0.4     215.9      2.3     0.3     117.2

Posts(2)

     6.2     1.1     14.1      4.6     0.7     9.7

Wood Products

                                     

Sawn timber(2)

     100.5     17.9     710.6      112.5     16.9     730.7

Remanufactured wood products(2)

     58.9     10.5     127.1      69.5     10.5     137.4

Flitches(2)

     2.8     0.5     26.1      3.9     0.6     29.2

Chips(2)

     0.5     0.1     19.1      0.3     0.0     17.0

Plywood and fiberboard panels(2)

     84.6     15.1     281.7      134.8     20.3     502.1

Other

     8.7     1.6     N/A      4.7     0.7     N/A
    


 

      


 

   

Total sales revenue

     561.3     100.0 %          664.3     100.0 %    
    


 

      


 

   

Cost of Sales:

                                     

Forestry labor costs

     59.0     18.4            64.8     19.3      

Timber

     68.0     21.2            69.3     20.7      

Port costs

     4.4     1.4            3.7     1.1      

Freight and other transportation costs

     73.5     22.9            80.4     24.0      
    


 

      


 

   

Other costs of sales

     116.3     36.2            117.1     34.9      
    


 

      


 

   

Total cost of sales

     321.2     100.0 %          335.4     100.0 %    
    


 

      


 

   

Gross margins

     42.8 %                49.5 %          

Depreciation

     53.5                  54.2            

Selling and Administration Expenses:

                                     

Wages and salaries

     12.4     34.3            13.5     24.5      

Other selling and administration expenses

     23.8     65.7            41.4     75.5      
    


 

      


 

   

Total selling and administration expenses

     36.3     100.0 %          54.9     100.0 %    
    


 

      


 

   

Total cost of sales, depreciation and selling and administration expenses

     410.9                  444.5            
    


            


         

Income from operations

     150.4                  219.8            

Operating margin

     26.8 %                33.1 %          

(1)   Volumes measured in thousands of metric tons.
(2)   Volumes measured in thousands of cubic meters.

 

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Table of Contents

Six Months Ended June 30, 2003 Compared to Six Months Ended June 30, 2002

 

Sales Revenue

 

Sales revenue increased 18.4%, from US$561.3 million in the first half of 2002 to US$664.3 million in the first half of 2003, principally as a result of:

 

    a 59.3% increase in sales of plywood and fiberboard panels;

 

    a 16.1% increase in sales of bleached pulp; and

 

    a 12.0% increase in sales of sawn timber.

 

These increases were partially offset by a 26.0% decrease in sales of pulplogs and a 1.0% decrease in sales of unbleached pulp.

 

Pulp Sales

 

Sales revenue of bleached and unbleached pulp increased 12.2%, from US$288.9 million in the first half of 2002 to US$324.2 million in the first half of 2003, reflecting a 14.7% increase in nominal dollar prices for pulp, which was partially offset by a 2.1% decrease in sales volume. Sales of bleached pulp increased 16.1%, from US$222.6 million in the first half of 2002 to US$258.5 million in the first half of 2003 due to a 16.6% increase in the nominal dollar price for bleached pulp, which was partially offset by a 0.4% decrease in sales volume. Sales of unbleached pulp decreased 1.0% from US$66.3 million in the first half of 2002 to US$65.7 million in the first half of 2003 due to a 7.6% decrease in unbleached pulp sales volume. This decrease in unbleached pulp sales volume was due to a reduction in sales to America and Asia, especially Thailand, which was partially offset by a 7.2% increase in the average nominal dollar price.

 

Wood Products Sales

 

Sales revenue of wood products, including sawn timber, remanufactured wood products, flitches and chips, increased 14.5% from US$162.6 million in the first half of 2002 to US$186.2 million in the first half of 2003. This increase was mainly the result of:

 

    a 12.0% increase in sales revenue of sawn timber due to an 8.9% increase in average nominal dollar prices and a 2.8% increase in sales volume; and

 

    a 18.1% increase in sales revenue of remanufactured wood products due to a 9.3% increase in average nominal dollar prices and an 8.1% increase in sales volume.

 

Plywood and Fiberboard Panel Sales

 

Sales revenue of plywood and fiberboard panels increased 59.3% from US$84.6 million in the first half of 2002 to US$134.8 million in the first half of 2003. This increase was primarily due to a 78.2% increase in sales volume, resulting from the start of production at two new medium-density fiberboard plants in October 2002. This increase in sales volume was partially offset by a 10.6% decrease in nominal dollar prices.

 

Forestry Sales

 

Forestry sales, which include sales of sawlogs, pulplogs and posts, decreased 12.0% from US$16.4 million in the first half of 2002 to US$14.4 million in the first half of 2003. This decrease was mainly the result of:

 

    a 26.0% decrease in sales revenue of posts due to a 31.6% decrease in sales volume, which was partially offset by an 8.2% increase in average nominal dollar prices; and

 

24


Table of Contents
    a 6.7% decrease in sales revenue of sawlogs, due to a 28.6% decrease in sales volume, partially offset by a 30.6% increase in sales volume.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales increased 4.4% from US$321.2 million for the first half of 2002 to US$335.4 million for the first half of 2003. This increase was primarily due to a 78.2% increase in the sales volume of plywood and fiberboard panels, which was partially offset by a 35.0% decrease in the sales volume of forestry products and a 2.1% decrease in the sales volume of pulp. These increases in sales volume resulted in larger amounts of depreciation, timber costs, forestry labor costs, and other costs of sales.

 

Gross margins increased from 42.8% for the first half of 2002 to 49.5% for the first half of 2003, primarily as a result of an increase in sales prices, and in particular a 14.7% increase in the sales price of pulp.

 

Selling and Administration Expenses

 

Selling and administration expenses increased 51.3% from US$36.3 million in the first half of 2002 to US$54.9 million in the first half of 2003, primarily as a result of an increase in project research expenses related to the Valdivia and Itata projects.

 

As a percentage of sales revenue, selling and administration expenses increased from 6.46% during the first half of 2002 to 8.26% during the first half of 2003, primarily as a result of the above-mentioned increase in selling and administration expenses, which was partially offset by an increase in sales revenues.

 

Income from Operations

 

Income from operations increased 46.1% from US$150.4 million in the first half of 2002 to US$219.8 million in the first half of 2003, principally reflecting an increase in the sales volume of panels, sawn timber and remanufactured products and the increase in nominal prices of pulp and wood products, which was partially offset by an increase in selling and administration expenses. Our operating profit margin increased from 26.8% in the first half of 2002 to 33.1% in the first half of 2003.

 

Non-Operating Income

 

Our total non-operating income increased from US$2.5 million in the first half of 2002 to US$23.1 million in the first half of 2003, in part due to a decrease in interest expense from US$33.7 million for the first half of 2002 to US$23.6 million for the first half of 2003. Additionally there was a US$6.2 million increase in foreign exchange gains and a US$4.0 million increase in other income.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income increased 2.1% from US$12.2 million for the first half of 2002 to US$12.4 million for the first half of 2003, largely as a consequence of an increase in average interest rates earned, which was partially offset by a reduction in the average position of cash and short term investments in the first half of 2003 compared to the first half of 2002.

 

Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

Foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations resulted in a foreign exchange gain of US$28.6 million in the first half of 2003, compared to US$22.3 million in the first half of 2002. Foreign currency exchange rate gains in 2002 were mainly due to an 11.3% increase in the value of the euro against the US dollar resulting in a gain of US$24.1 million on our marketable securities denominated in euros, partially offset by a devaluation of the Argentine peso. The gain in 2003 is also due to a 9.7% increase in the value of the euro against the US dollar which resulted in a gain on our holding during the first half of 2003 of approximately US$12.8 million in marketable securities denominated in euros, and also to an increase in the value of the Argentine peso.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased 30.0% from US$33.7 million to US$23.6 million, largely as a consequence of a decrease in the average interest rate on our outstanding debt from 7.4% in the first half of 2002 to 6.6% in the first

 

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half of 2003 and an increase in interest capitalization from US$24.3 million for the first half of 2002 to US$29.4 million in the first half of 2003. The decrease in the average interest rate is mainly due to a decrease in LIBOR (London Inter Bank Offering Rate) affecting our debt subject to floating rate. As of June 30, 2003, approximately 24.6% of our total debt was subject to a floating interest rate.

 

Income Taxes

 

Income taxes increased 64.0% from US$24.0 million in the first half of 2002 to US$39.4 million in the first half of 2003. This was due to higher pre-tax income attained in the first half of 2003, compared to the same period in 2002 as well as an increase of 0.5% in the statutory tax rate. In accordance with Chilean law, we and each of our subsidiaries compute and pay tax on a separate basis and not on a consolidated basis. At June 30, 2003, our consolidated Chilean subsidiaries had tax loss carryforwards of US$22.5 million.

 

These tax loss carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely. At June 30, 2003, Alto Paraná had US$27.9 million in unutilized tax loss carryforwards expiring in 2007. In accordance with Argentine law, tax loss carryforwards can be applied to offset taxable income earned by Alto Paraná for five years following their incurrence.

 

Net Income

 

Our net income increased 58.0% from US$129.8 million in the first half of 2002 to US$205.1 million in the first half of 2003. This increase was primarily due to an increase in prices for pulp and wood products resulting in higher operating income and also to an increase in non-operating income primarily due to a decrease in interest expense, which was partially offset by a increase in income taxes.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are funds from operations, domestic and international borrowings from commercial and investment banks, and debt offerings in the domestic and international capital markets.

 

Our net cash flow provided by operating activities increased 46.6% from US$158.0 million for the first half of 2002 to US$231.6 million for the first half of 2003. This increase was mainly due to increases in operating income and a positive cash flow in investments and proceeds from sales of trading securities which were partially offset by a decrease in accounts payable and an increase in inventories.

 

For the first half of 2003, our main investment activities were the ongoing construction of the Valdivia Mill with total capital expenditures for the period of approximately US$204.4 million and a capital contribution of US$28.5 million to EKA Chile S.A. EKA Chile is a joint venture between us and EKA Chemicals, a Swedish chemical company. EKA Chile is 50% controlled by each party. EKA Chile’s operations will be located in Talcahuano, near our operations, and will provide chlorate to our mills.

 

For the first half of 2003, our net cash flows obtained from financing activities were US$44.1 million. During this period, our principal financing activities were:

 

    obtaining a US$150 million five-year syndicated loan through our Panama agency, bearing interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%;

 

    repayment of US$37.5 million in aggregate principal amount of our 1997 syndicated loan which bore interest at LIBOR plus 0.35%; and

 

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    repayment of US$1.4 million in aggregate principal amount of domestic bonds which bore interest at a rate of UF plus 6.0%.

 

At June 30, 2003, our short-term bank borrowings were US$21 thousand.

 

Our total long-term bank, export credit agency and multilateral lending agency debt (including the current portion of such debt) was US$402.5 million at June 30, 2003, of which 100% was US dollar-denominated. At June 30, 2003, we also had total capital markets borrowings of US$1,238.3 million, 99.9% of which was dollar-denominated and 0.1% of which was UF denominated. At June 30, 2003, the weighted average maturity of our Chilean peso-denominated debt (all of which is expressed in UF) was 0.4 years and the weighted average maturity of our foreign currency-denominated debt was 5.7 years. At that date, the average interest rate on our UF-denominated debt was 6.0% in excess of UF indices, the average margin on our foreign currency-denominated floating rate debt was 0.77% over LIBOR and the average interest rate on our foreign currency-denominated fixed rate debt was 7.63%.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates. From time to time we assess our exposure and monitor opportunities to manage these risks, including entering into derivative contracts. In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable. Such risks principally include country risk, credit risk and legal risk and are not represented in the information below. The following discussion about our risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

We are subject to interest rate risk principally with respect to our indebtedness that bears interest at variable rates. At June 30, 2003, we had outstanding indebtedness of approximately US$1,640.8 million, of which approximately 75.5% bore interest at fixed rates and approximately 24.5% bore interest at floating rates. Approximately 0.1% of the indebtedness was denominated in UF as of that date. The interest rate on our variable rate debt is determined by reference to LIBOR. Our UF-denominated indebtedness bears interest at a fixed rate, although the amount of the borrowing is periodically revalued in accordance with Chilean inflation.

 

The following table summarizes our long-term debt obligations as of June 30, 2003. The table presents the aggregate principal amount of each category of indebtedness maturing in each year, at the weighted average interest rate for each category of indebtedness. Average interest rates for liabilities are calculated based on the prevailing interest rate for each loan at June 30, 2003.

 

     As of June 30, 2003

     Expected contractual maturity date

    

Average

Interest Rate(1)


    Within 1
year


   More than
1 and not
more than 2
years


   More than
2 and not
more than 3
years


   More than
3 and not
more than 4
years


   More than
4 and not
more than 5
years


   Thereafter

   Total Long
Term Debt
(incl. 2003
maturities)


   Fair
Value(2)


    

(US$ in millions)

Long-Term Debt:

                                             

Fixed rate (Ch$-denominated)(3)

   6.00 %   0.6    —      —      —      —      —      0.6    0.6

Variable rate (Ch$-denominated)(3)

   —       —      —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

Fixed rate (US$ denominated)

   7.63 %   80.2    —      175.0    —      100.0    882.5    1,237.7    1,424.5

Variable rate (US$-denominated)

   LIBOR+ 0.77 %   50.3    100.4    130.5    61.1    60.3    —      402.5    402.5

(1)   Average interest rate means the weighted average prevailing interest rate at June 30, 2003.
(2)   These figures were calculated based on the discounted value of future cash flows expected to be received or paid, considering current discount rates that reflect the different risks involved.
(3)   These figures were calculated based on the observed exchange rate published by the Central Bank as of June 30, 2003 which was Ch$699.12 = US$ 1.00.

 

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Foreign Currency Risk

 

Our principal exchange rate risk involves changes in the value of the Chilean peso relative to the US dollar. We generally believe that our foreign currency risk is not material to our net income. As of June 30, 2003, substantially all of our consolidated revenues were denominated in or indexed to US dollars. We estimate that a majority of our consolidated costs and expenses are also denominated in US dollars. As of June 30, 2003:

 

    a significant portion of our accounts receivable was denominated in US dollars;

 

    substantially all of our indebtedness was denominated in US dollars; and

 

    approximately 88.9% of our consolidated total assets was denominated in US dollars, 7.0% in Chilean pesos, 2.7% in euros and 1.4% in other currencies.

 

Substantially all of our foreign currency denominated revenues, costs and expenses, receivables and indebtedness are denominated in US dollars.

 

Capital Expenditures

 

In order to utilize our increasing volume of forest production, we have continually added to, expanded and modernized our processing facilities. Our planned capital expenditures include the construction of the Valdivia Mill in the Tenth Region of Chile for the production of bleached pulp. This facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2004, with a projected annual capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons of bleached pulp. Construction of the mill began in December 2001. The project is expected to require capital expenditures of approximately US$600 million, to be funded out of our operating income and from indebtedness, of which approximately US$389.3 million has already been paid as of June 30, 2003.

 

We have proposed the construction of another industrial complex in southern Chile. As proposed, the project, known as the “Itata Project,” would include a pulp mill, a plywood mill, a sawmill and other wood processing facilities. Our board of directors has approved the construction of the first phase of the Itata Project, consisting of a sawmill, a plywood mill and an energy complex to supply steam and energy. Construction of this first phase began in May 2003 with an estimated investment cost of approximately US$120 million. The necessary environmental approvals for the proposed project have been obtained. However, the pulp mill has not received final board of director approval and therefore there can be no assurance of the implementation of the second phase. We are proceeding with all the studies to submit the project to the board of directors for its approval during the first half of 2004.

 

Our main capital expenditures were US$246.1 million during the first half of 2003, consisting primarily of US$18.4 million in investments in the forested land, US$207.4 million in investments in the pulp business, and US$20.3 million in investments in the wood products business.

 

The capital expenditures described above represent amounts accrued for purposes of our financial statements and do not necessarily represent the cash cost of capital expenditures during the period. Non cash capital expenditures totaled US$15.5 million and US$20.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively.

 

We believe that cash flow generated by operations, cash balances, borrowings from commercial banks and export credit agencies and debt offerings in the domestic and international capital markets, will be sufficient to meet our working capital, debt service and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

Derivatives Instruments

 

In the normal course of business, we utilize various derivative instruments. Recent transactions include:

 

    On May 8, 2002 we entered into an interest rate swap agreement on US$200.0 million in principal amount of the 7.75% Notes for interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.79875%;

 

    On May 23, 2003, we entered into an offsetting swap contract in which the US$200.0 million of the notes bearing interest at a rate of LIBOR + 1.79875%, resulting from the interest rate swap entered into on May 8, 2002, were swapped for a fixed interest rate of 5.506%;

 

    On June 30, 2003, we completed an unwind of a principal amount of US$30.0 million on both of the above referenced swaps agreements, resulting in a gain of US$5.1 million;

 

    On August 27, 2003, we completed an unwind of a principal amount of US$40.0 million on both of the above referenced swaps agreements, resulting in a gain of US$6.5 million;

 

    On June 13, 2003, we entered into a T-lock agreement at a fixed rate of 3.13% associated with the issuance of the outstanding notes. A T-lock is a derivative in which two parties agree on a certain US Treasury Bill rate for a certain maturity. Any variation in the market rate for the same maturity will lead to a different valuation of the instrument. The forward date for this transaction was July 9, 2003 and the principal amount was US$250.0 million; and

 

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    On July 2, 2003 we completed an unwind of the above referenced T-lock, resulting in a gain of US$8.4 million.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

A summary of our significant accounting policies is included in Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is included in this prospectus, and incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We believe that the consistent application of these policies enables us and our subsidiaries to provide readers of the financial statements with more useful and reliable information about our operating results and financial condition. The following are the accounting policies that we believe are the most important to the portrayal of our financial condition and results of operations and require our most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The key judgments we must make under the property, plant, and equipment policy include the estimation of the useful lives of our various asset types, the election to utilize primarily the straight-line method for recording depreciation, management’s judgment regarding appropriate capitalization or expensing of costs related to fixed assets, and our determination that no impairment exists.

 

Property, plant, and equipment is stated on our balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment, and other depreciable assets is determined using primarily the straight-line method. The estimation of useful lives for fixed assets impacts the level of annual depreciation expense recorded. Utilization of the straight-line method for recording depreciation or any of the other acceptable methods for depreciating assets will result in the same amount of depreciation over the life of an asset; however, the amount of annual depreciation expense and the resulting carrying amount of net property, plant, and equipment can vary significantly depending on the method elected.

 

Property, plant, and equipment assets are evaluated for possible impairment on a specific asset basis or in groups of similar assets, as applicable. This process requires our estimate of future cash flows generated by each asset or group of assets. For any instance where this evaluation process indicates impairment, the appropriate asset’s carrying values are written down to net fair value and the amount of the write-down is charged against the results of continuing operations.

 

Expenditures that substantially improve and/or increase the useful life of facilities or equipment are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Our evaluation of whether an expenditure related to property, plant, and equipment substantially improves and/or increases the useful life of an asset and is appropriately capitalized as an addition to the asset’s cost basis or is expensed as normal maintenance and repair expense can significantly affect results of operations for a given period, as well as our financial position.

 

Forests

 

Forests are stated at cost of development less the cost of forest harvested. Forest costs consist primarily of purchased timber, planting, maintenance, protection, and other direct costs related to the plantation of the forest. Direct and indirect interest costs of developing forests are capitalized until the forest is deemed to have reached an exploitable stage. These capitalized interest costs are included in the historical cost of the forest. Forests do not include any estimated future reforestation costs. The cost of forest harvested is based on the volume of forest harvested in relation to the estimated volume of forest recoverable. Our estimated volume of forest recoverable is based on statistical information and data obtained from physical measurements and other information gathering techniques. Such information gathered and data used requires, to a certain extent, estimates and judgments in determining the amount of forest recoverable.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories of raw materials, work-in-process and spare parts are stated at the lower of cost or market, primarily using the average cost method. Finished goods are stated at the lower of average production costs for the period, or net realizable value. Inventory costs include materials, labor, transportation, depreciation of fixed assets and production overhead as appropriate. Determination of the net realizable value of each component of inventory is based on the

 

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current invoice price. Work-in-process inventories require estimation of the future cost per unit to complete manufacturing from each stage of processing, using historical manufacturing costs. These estimates can affect the carrying value for inventories, and any required inventory write-down can affect results of operations in both current and future periods.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill is the excess of acquisition cost of a business over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill and other intangible assets are deemed to have an indefinite life and not amortized. However, these indefinite life assets are tested for impairment at least on an annual basis or more frequently when indicators of impairment are determined to exist by applying a fair-value based test. Management must exercise judgment in assessing goodwill for impairment. We review the recorded value of our goodwill annually or sooner if changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability of the carrying value of the asset is determined by comparing fair value to the net book value, including goodwill, of the relevant assets.

 

Deferred Income Tax

 

We use the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, the provision for income taxes includes amounts currently payable and amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities, based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and is measured using the enacted tax rates that are assumed will be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance which is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In making the determination of the valuation allowance, we consider both positive and negative evidence and make certain assumptions, including projections of taxable income. Changes in these assumptions may have a material impact on results.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

The Company provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a review of the specific receivable. A 100% provision is applied for those customers for which collectibility is in doubt. Management must make certain judgments and estimates in determining accounts that are considered to be in doubt.

 

Recent Applicable US GAAP Pronouncements

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued FAS 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations,” FAS 143. FAS 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the entity either settles the obligation for the amount recorded or incurs a gain or loss. FAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. We adopted FAS-143 on January 1, 2003, and it did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued FAS 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities.” This statement supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” FAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity when the liability is incurred. Under EITF 94-3, a company recognized a liability at the date an entity commits to an exit plan. FAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. The provisions of FAS 146 are effective for any exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. We have not initiated any such exit or disposal activities in 2003; therefore, adoption of FAS 146 had no effect on our financial position, results of operation or cash flows.

 

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In November, 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” FIN 45. FIN 45 requires that, upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued. The recognition provisions of FIN 45 are effective for any guarantees issued or modified after December 31, 2002. The adoption of FIN 45 on January 1, 2003 did not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” FIN 46. FIN 46 requires that companies that control another entity through interests other than voting interests should consolidate the controlled entity. FIN 46 applies to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. The related disclosure requirements are effective immediately. We do not have nor have we created or obtained an interest in any such entities.

 

During fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, Arauco implemented FAS 145, “Rescission of FAS Nos. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FAS 13, and Technical Corrections,” FAS 145, under which gains and losses from extinguishment of debt should be classified as extraordinary items only if they meet criteria outlined in Accounting Principles Bulletin No. 30. Under FAS 145 we recorded losses on the early extinguishment of debt in earnings from continuing operations in our statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2002. No such losses have arisen in the six-month period ended June 30, 2003.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued FAS 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” FAS 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments and for hedging activities under FAS 133, Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities. This statement (1) clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristic of a derivative, (2) clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component, and (3) amends the definition of an underlying to conform to FIN 45. FAS 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, with all provisions applied prospectively. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges in accordance with US GAAP for (i) each year in the five years ended December 31, 2002 and (ii) the six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2003. For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of earnings before income taxes plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interests). Fixed charges consist of interest expense, capitalized interest and amortization of bond discount and issue costs.

 

     Year ended December 31,

   Six months
ended June 30,


     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

   2002

   2003

US GAAP

   1.5    3.9    4.7    2.3    3.4    3.2    5.0

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

 

General

 

We hereby offer, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal (which together constitute the exchange offer), to exchange up to US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Notes due 2013, which we refer to in this prospectus as the outstanding notes, for a like aggregate principal amount of our 5.125% Notes due 2013, which we refer to in this prospectus as the exchange notes, properly tendered on or prior to the expiration date and not withdrawn as permitted pursuant to the procedures described below. The exchange offer is being made with respect to all of the outstanding notes.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes is outstanding. This prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal, is first being sent on or about October 2003, to all holders of outstanding notes known to us. Our obligation to accept outstanding notes for exchange pursuant to the exchange offer is subject to conditions set forth under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” below. We currently expect that each of the conditions will be satisfied and that no waivers will be necessary.

 

Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer

 

We have entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the outstanding notes in which we agreed, under some circumstances, to file a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the outstanding notes for exchange notes. We also agreed to use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the exchange offer registration statement to become effective under the Securities Act as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than 240 days after the closing date and keep the exchange offer registration statement effective for not less than 20 business days. The exchange notes will have terms substantially identical to the outstanding notes, except that the exchange notes will not contain terms with respect to transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest for failure to observe obligations in the registration rights agreement. The outstanding notes were issued on July 9, 2003.

 

If we are unable to meet our obligations under the registration rights agreement described above, we will use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause the SEC to declare effective a shelf registration statement with respect to the resale of the outstanding notes and keep the statement, effective for up to two years after the closing date.

 

If we fail to comply with obligations under the registration rights agreement described above, we will be required to pay additional interest to holders of the outstanding notes.

 

Each holder of outstanding notes that wishes to exchange outstanding notes for exchange notes in the exchange offer will be required to make the following representations:

 

    any exchange notes will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business;

 

    the holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the outstanding notes or the exchange notes within the meaning of the Securities Act;

 

    the holder is not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours or if it is an affiliate of ours, that it will comply with applicable registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act, to the extent applicable;

 

    if the holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in the distribution of the exchange notes; and

 

    if the holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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Terms of the Exchange Offer

 

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal, we will accept for exchange any outstanding notes properly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date. We will issue US$1,000 principal amount of exchange notes in exchange for each US$1,000 principal amount of outstanding notes surrendered under the exchange offer. Outstanding notes may be tendered only in integral multiples of US$1,000.

 

The form and terms of the exchange notes will be substantially identical to the form and terms of the outstanding notes except the exchange notes will be registered under the Securities Act, will not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not provide for any additional amounts upon our failure to fulfill our obligations under the registration rights agreement to file, and cause to be effective, a registration statement. The exchange notes will evidence the same debt as the outstanding notes. The exchange notes will be issued under and entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that authorized the issuance of the outstanding notes.

 

The exchange offer is not conditioned upon any minimum aggregate principal amount of outstanding notes being tendered for exchange.

 

As of the date of this prospectus, US$300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes are outstanding. This prospectus and a letter of transmittal are being sent to all registered holders of outstanding notes. There will be no fixed record date for determining registered holders of outstanding notes entitled to participate in the exchange offer.

 

We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the provisions of the registration rights agreement, the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC. Outstanding notes that are not tendered for exchange in the exchange offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest and will be entitled to the rights and benefits the holders have under the indenture relating to the outstanding notes, except for any rights under the registration rights agreement that by their terms terminate upon the consummation of the exchange offer.

 

We will be deemed to have accepted for exchange properly tendered outstanding notes when we have given oral or written notice of the acceptance to the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the tendering holders for the purposes of receiving the exchange notes from us and delivering exchange notes to the holders. Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, we reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer, and not to accept for exchange any outstanding notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions specified below under the caption “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer.”

 

Holders who tender outstanding notes in the exchange offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of outstanding notes. We will pay all charges and expenses, other than applicable taxes described below, in connection with the exchange offer. It is important that you read the section labeled “—Fees and Expenses” below for more details regarding fees and expenses incurred in the exchange offer.

 

Resale of Exchange Notes

 

Based on interpretations of the staff of the SEC set forth in no action letters issued to unrelated third parties, we believe that exchange notes issued under the exchange offer in exchange for outstanding notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any exchange note holder without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, if:

 

    the holder is not an affiliate of ours within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

    the exchange notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the holder’s business; and

 

    the holder does not intend to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes.

 

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Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer with the intention of participating in any manner in a distribution of the exchange notes:

 

    cannot rely on the position of the staff of the SEC enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation or similar interpretive letters; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.

 

This prospectus may be used for an offer to resell, for the resale or for other retransfer of exchange notes only as specifically set forth in this prospectus. With regard to broker-dealers, only broker-dealers that acquired the outstanding notes as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities may participate in the exchange offer. Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes, where the outstanding notes were acquired by the broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the exchange notes. Please read the section captioned “Plan of Distribution” for more details regarding the transfer of exchange notes.

 

Expiration Date; Extensions; Amendments

 

The exchange offer will expire at midnight, New York City time on November     , 2003, unless in our sole discretion we extend it.

 

In order to extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange agent orally or in writing of any extension. We will notify the registered holders of outstanding notes of the extension no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day after the previously scheduled expiration date.

 

We reserve the right, in our sole discretion:

 

    to delay accepting for exchange any outstanding notes;

 

    to extend the exchange offer or to terminate the exchange offer and to refuse to accept outstanding notes not previously accepted if any of the conditions set forth below under “—Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied, by giving oral or written notice of the delay, extension or termination to the exchange agent; or

 

    under the terms of the registration rights agreement, to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner.

 

Any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be followed promptly by oral or written notice to the registered holders of outstanding notes. If we amend the exchange offer in a manner that we determine constitutes a material change, we will promptly disclose the amendment in a manner reasonably calculated to inform the holder of outstanding notes of the amendment.

 

Without limiting the manner in which we may choose to make public announcements of any delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment of the exchange offer, we will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any public announcement, other than by making a timely release to a financial news service.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

 

Despite any other term of the exchange offer, we will not be required to accept for exchange, or exchange any exchange notes for, any outstanding notes, and we may terminate the exchange offer as provided in this prospectus before accepting any outstanding notes for exchange if in our reasonable judgment:

 

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    the exchange notes to be received will not be tradable by the holder, without restriction under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act and without material restrictions under the blue sky or securities laws of substantially all of the states of the United States;

 

    the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder of outstanding notes, would violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC; or

 

    any action or proceeding has been instituted or threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency with respect to the exchange offer that, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer.

 

In addition, we will not be obligated to accept for exchange the outstanding notes of any holder that has not made to us:

 

    the representations described under “—Purpose and Effect of the Exchange Offer,” “—Procedures for Tendering” and “Plan of Distribution;” and

 

    such other representations as may be reasonably necessary under applicable SEC rules, regulations or interpretations to make available to it an appropriate form for registration of the exchange notes under the Securities Act.

 

We expressly reserve the right, at any time or at various times, to extend the period of time during which the exchange offer is open. Consequently, we may delay acceptance of any outstanding notes by giving oral or written notice of the extension to their holders. During any such extensions, all notes previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange offer, and we may accept them for exchange. We will return any outstanding notes that we do not accept for exchange for any reason without expense to their tendering holder promptly after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange offer, and to reject for exchange any outstanding notes not previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the exchange offer specified above. We will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, nonacceptance or termination to the holders of the outstanding notes as promptly as practicable.

 

These conditions are for our sole benefit and we may assert them regardless of the circumstances that may give rise to them or waive them in whole or in part at any or at various times in our sole discretion. If we fail at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights, this failure will not constitute a waiver of this right. Each right will be deemed an ongoing right that we may assert at any time or at various times.

 

In addition, we will not accept for exchange any outstanding notes tendered, and will not issue exchange notes in exchange for any outstanding notes if, at the time, any stop order will be threatened or in effect with respect to the registration statement of which this prospectus constitutes a part or the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Procedures for Tendering

 

Only a holder of outstanding notes may tender the outstanding notes in the exchange offer. To tender in the exchange offer, a holder must:

 

    complete, sign and date the accompanying letter of transmittal, or a facsimile of the letter of transmittal; have the signature on the letter of transmittal guaranteed if the letter of transmittal so requires; and mail or deliver the letter of transmittal or facsimile to the exchange agent prior to the expiration date; or

 

    comply with DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program procedures described below.

 

In addition, either:

 

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    the exchange agent must receive the outstanding notes along with the accompanying letter of transmittal; or

 

    the exchange agent must receive, prior to the expiration date, a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures for book-entry transfer described below or a properly transmitted agent’s message; or

 

    the holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

 

To be tendered effectively, the exchange agent must receive any physical delivery of a letter of transmittal and other required documents at the address set forth below under “—Exchange Agent” prior to the expiration date.

 

The tender by a holder that is not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date will constitute an agreement between the holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal.

 

The method of delivery of outstanding notes, the letter of transmittal and all other required documents to the exchange agent is at the holder’s election and risk. Rather than mail these items, we recommend that holders use an overnight or hand delivery service. In all cases, holders should allow sufficient time to assure delivery to the exchange agent before the expiration date. Holders should not send the letter of transmittal or outstanding notes to us. Holders may request their respective brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies or other nominees to effect the above transactions for them.

 

Any beneficial owner whose outstanding notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and who wishes to tender should contact the registered holder promptly and instruct it to tender on the owner’s behalf. If the beneficial owner wishes to tender on its own behalf, it must, prior to completing and executing the accompanying letter of transmittal and delivering its outstanding notes either:

 

    make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the outstanding notes in such owner’s name; or

 

    obtain a properly completed bond power from the registered holder of outstanding notes.

 

The transfer of registered ownership may take considerable time and may not be completed prior to the expiration date.

 

Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal described below must be guaranteed by a member firm of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States or another “eligible institution” within the meaning of Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act, unless the outstanding notes are tendered:

 

    by a registered holder who has not completed the box entitled “Special Issuance Instructions” or “Special Delivery Instructions” on the accompanying letter of transmittal; or

 

    for the account of an eligible institution.

 

If the accompanying letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than the registered holder of any outstanding notes listed on the outstanding notes, the outstanding notes must be endorsed or accompanied by a properly completed bond power. The bond power must be signed by the registered holder as the registered holder’s name appears on the outstanding notes and an eligible institution must guarantee the signature on the bond power.

 

If the accompanying letter of transmittal or any outstanding notes or bond powers are signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, these persons should so indicate when signing. Unless waived by us, they should also submit evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to deliver the accompanying letter of transmittal.

 

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The exchange agent and DTC have confirmed that any financial institution that is a participant in DTC’s system may use DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program to tender. Participants in the program may, instead of physically completing and signing the accompanying letter of transmittal and delivering it to the exchange agent, transmit their acceptance of the exchange offer electronically. They may do so by causing DTC to transfer the outstanding notes to the exchange agent in accordance with its procedures for transfer. DTC will then send an agent’s message to the exchange agent. The term “agent’s message” means a message transmitted by DTC, received by the exchange agent and forming part of the book-entry confirmation, to the effect that:

 

    DTC has received an express acknowledgment from a participant in its Automated Tender Offer Program that is tendering outstanding notes that are the subject of the book-entry confirmation;

 

    the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the terms of the accompanying letter of transmittal, or, in the case of an agent’s message relating to guaranteed delivery, that the participant has received and agrees to be bound by the applicable notice of guaranteed delivery; and

 

    the agreement may be enforced against that participant.

 

We will determine in our sole discretion all outstanding questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, including time or receipt, acceptance of tendered outstanding notes and withdrawal of tendered outstanding notes. Our determination will be final and binding. We reserve the absolute right to reject any outstanding notes not validly tendered or any outstanding notes the acceptance of which would, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities or conditions of tender as to particular outstanding notes. Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer, including the instructions in the accompanying letter of transmittal, will be final and binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders of outstanding notes must be cured within such time as we will determine. Although we intend to notify holders of defects or irregularities with respect to tenders of outstanding notes, neither we, the exchange agent, nor any other person will incur any liability for failure to give the notification. Tenders of outstanding notes will not be deemed made until any defects or irregularities have been cured or waived. Any outstanding notes received by the exchange agent that are not properly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned to the exchange agent without cost to the tendering holder, unless otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal, as soon as practicable following the expiration date.

 

In all cases, we will issue exchange notes for outstanding notes that we have accepted for exchange under the exchange offer only after the exchange agent timely receives:

 

    outstanding notes or a timely book-entry confirmation of the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC; and

 

    a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and all other required documents or a properly transmitted agent’s message.

 

By signing the accompanying letter of transmittal or authorizing the transmission of the agent’s message, each tendering holder of outstanding notes will represent or be deemed to have represented to us that, among other things:

 

    any exchange notes that the holder receives will be acquired in the ordinary course of its business;

 

    the holder has no arrangement or understanding with any person or entity to participate in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

    if the holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in the distribution of the exchange notes;

 

   

if the holder is a broker-dealer that will receive exchange notes for its own account in exchange for outstanding notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities,

 

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that it will deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any resale of any exchange notes. See “Plan of Distribution”; and

 

    the holder is not an affiliate, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of ours or, if the holder is an affiliate, it will comply with any, applicable registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Book-Entry Transfer

 

The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with respect to the outstanding notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly after the date of this prospectus. Any financial institution participating in DTC’s system may make book-entry delivery of outstanding notes by causing DTC to transfer the outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for transfer. Holders of outstanding notes who are unable to deliver confirmation of the book-entry tender of their outstanding notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC or all other documents required by the letter? of transmittal to the exchange agent on or prior to the expiration date must tender their outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

 

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

 

Holders wishing to tender their outstanding notes but whose outstanding notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver their outstanding notes, the accompanying letter of transmittal or any other available required documents to the exchange agent or comply with the applicable procedures under DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program prior to the expiration date may tender if:

 

    the tender is made through an eligible institution;

 

    prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives from the eligible institution either a properly completed and duly executed notice of guaranteed delivery, by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery, or a properly transmitted agent’s message and notice of guaranteed delivery;

 

    setting forth the name and address of the holder, the registered number(s) of the outstanding notes and the principal amount of outstanding notes tendered;

 

    stating that the tender is being made thereby; and

 

    guaranteeing that, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date, the accompanying letter of transmittal, or facsimile thereof, together with the outstanding notes or a book-entry confirmation, and any other documents required by the accompanying letter of transmittal will be deposited by the eligible institution with the exchange agent; and

 

    the exchange agent receives the properly completed and executed letter of transmittal, or facsimile thereof, as well as all tendered outstanding notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation, and all other documents required by the accompanying letter of transmittal, within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the expiration date.

 

Upon request to the exchange agent, a notice of guaranteed delivery will be sent to holders who wish to tender their outstanding notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth above.

 

Withdrawal of Tenders

 

Except as otherwise provided in this prospectus, holders of outstanding notes may withdraw their tenders at any time prior to the expiration date.

 

For a withdrawal to be effective:

 

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    the exchange agent must receive a written notice of withdrawal, which notice may be by telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter of withdrawal at one of the addresses set forth below under —Exchange Agent,” or

 

    holders must comply with the appropriate procedures of DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program system.

 

Any notice of withdrawal must:

 

    specify the name of the person who tendered the outstanding notes to be withdrawn;

 

    identify the outstanding notes to be withdrawn, including the principal amount of the outstanding notes; and

 

    where certificates for outstanding notes have been transmitted, specify the name in which the outstanding notes were registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder.

 

If certificates for outstanding notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of the certificates, the withdrawing holder must also submit:

 

    the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn; and

 

    a signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution unless the holder is an eligible institution.

 

If outstanding notes have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn outstanding notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of that facility. We will determine all questions as to the validity, form and eligibility, including time of receipt, of the notices, and our determination will be final and binding on all parties. We will deem any outstanding notes so withdrawn not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the exchange offer. Any outstanding notes that have been tendered for exchange but that are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to their holder without cost to the holder, or, in the case of outstanding notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the exchange agent’s account at DTC according to the procedures described above, the outstanding notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC for outstanding notes, as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the exchange offer. Properly withdrawn, outstanding notes may be retendered by following one of the procedures described under “––Procedures for Tendering” above at any time on or prior to the expiration date.

 

Exchange Agent

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank has been appointed as exchange agent for the exchange offer. You should direct questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or for the letter of transmittal and requests for the notice of guaranteed delivery to the exchange agent as follows:

 

By Mail or Overnight Delivery:    By Facsimile:    By Hand Delivery:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

  

(for Eligible Institutions only) (212) 623-6216

Attention: William Potes

  

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

     Confirm by Telephone: (212) 623-5136     

 

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Delivery of the letter of transmittal to an address other than as set forth above or transmission via facsimile other than as set forth above does not constitute a valid delivery of the letter of transmittal.

 

Fees and Expenses

 

We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, we may make additional solicitations by telephone or in person by our officers and regular employees and those of our affiliates.

 

We have not retained any dealer-manager in connection with the exchange offer and will not make any payments to broker-dealers or others soliciting acceptance of the exchange offer. We will, however, pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and reimburse it for its related reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

 

We will pay the cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange offer. The expenses are estimated in the aggregate to be approximately US$150,000. They include:

 

    SEC registration fees;

 

    fees and expenses of the exchange agent and trustee;

 

    accounting and legal fees and printing costs; and

 

    related fees and expenses.

 

Transfer Taxes

 

We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the exchange of outstanding notes under the exchange offer. The tendering holder, however, will be required to pay any transfer taxes, whether imposed on the registered holder or any other person, if:

 

    certificates representing outstanding notes for principal amounts not tendered or accepted for exchange are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of outstanding notes tendered;

 

    tendered outstanding notes are registered in the name of any person other than the person signing the letter of transmittal; or

 

    a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange of outstanding notes under the exchange offer.

 

If satisfactory evidence of payment of the taxes is not submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of the transfer taxes will be billed to that tendering holder.

 

Holders who tender their outstanding notes for exchange will not be required to pay any transfer taxes. However, holders who instruct us to register exchange notes in the name of, or request that outstanding notes not tendered or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the registered tendering holder will be required to pay any applicable transfer tax.

 

Consequences of Failure to Exchange

 

Holders of outstanding notes who do not exchange their outstanding notes for exchange notes under the exchange offer will remain subject to the restrictions on transfer of the outstanding notes:

 

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    as set forth in the legend printed on the notes as a consequence of the issuance of the outstanding notes under the exemption from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; and

 

    otherwise as set forth in the offering memorandum distributed in connection with the private offering of the outstanding notes.

 

In general, you may not offer or sell the outstanding notes unless they are registered under the Securities Act, or if the offer or sale is exempt from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as required by the registration rights agreement, we do not intend to register resales of the outstanding notes under the Securities Act. Based on interpretations of the staff of the SEC, exchange notes issued under the exchange offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by their holders (other than any holder that is our “affiliate” within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that the holders acquired the exchange notes in the ordinary course of the holders’ business and the holders have no arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the exchange notes to be acquired in the exchange offer. Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the exchange notes:

 

    cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the SEC; and

 

    must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with a secondary resale transaction.

 

Accounting Treatment

 

We will record the exchange notes in our accounting records at the same carrying value as the outstanding notes, which is the aggregate principal amount, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or loss for accounting purposes in connection with the exchange offer. We will record the expenses of the exchange offer as incurred.

 

Other

 

Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary, and you should carefully consider whether to accept. You are urged to consult your financial and tax advisors in making your own decision on what action to take.

 

We may in the future seek to acquire untendered outstanding notes in open market or privately negotiated transactions, through subsequent exchange offers or otherwise. We have no present plans to acquire any outstanding notes that are not tendered in the exchange offer or to file a registration statement to permit resales of any untendered outstanding notes.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

 

On July 9, 2003, we completed a private placement of US$300.0 million of outstanding notes. The Company issued the outstanding notes, and it will issue the exchange notes, under an indenture dated July 9, 2003 between ourselves and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee. The outstanding notes were issued in a private transaction that was not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

 

The following summary of the material provisions of the indenture and the exchange notes does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture and the exchange notes, including the definitions of certain terms therein. The terms and provisions of the exchange notes are identical in all material result to the outstanding notes except the exchange notes have been registered under the Securities Act and, therefore, the following summary is also applicable to the outstanding notes. References to the “notes” in this prospectus are references to both the outstanding notes and the exchange notes. The definitions of certain terms used in the following summary are set forth below under “—Definitions.” Capitalized terms used in the following summary and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the indenture.

 

General

 

The exchange notes will be issued by us, acting through our Panamanian agency.

 

The indenture does not limit the amount of indebtedness or other obligations that may be incurred by us. Under the indenture, we are permitted to issue additional notes (which may, in the case of additional notes of the same series as the exchange notes offered by this prospectus, have the same terms including interest rate, maturity and redemption provisions as the exchange notes, and may constitute one series with the exchange notes).

 

The exchange notes will be direct, unconditional and unsecured obligations of ours and will, other than in the case of certain obligations granted preferential treatment pursuant to Chilean law, rank pari passu in right of payment with all of our other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

 

Assuming that all outstanding notes are exchanged for exchange notes, the aggregate principal amount of the exchange notes will be US$300.0 million. The exchange notes will mature on July 9, 2013. The exchange notes will bear interest at the rate per annum set forth on the front cover page of this prospectus from July 9, 2003 or from the most recent interest payment date for which interest has been paid or provided. Interest on the exchange notes will be payable semiannually on January 9 and July 9 of each year, commencing on January 9, 2004, to the person in whose name an exchange note is registered at the close of business on the preceding December 15 and June 15, as the case may be. Interest on the exchange notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Holders must surrender the exchange notes to the paying agent for the exchange notes to collect principal payments. Except as described in “—Book-Entry; Delivery and Form” in the prospectus, we will pay principal and interest by check and may mail interest checks to a holder’s registered address.

 

The exchange notes will be issued only in fully registered form, without coupons, with a minimum denomination of US$1,000 and in integral multiples thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of exchange notes, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Initially the trustee will act as paying agent and registrar for the exchange notes. The exchange notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the registrar for the exchange notes.

 

Book-Entry; Delivery and Form

 

The exchange notes will be represented by one or more global notes in registered, global form without interest coupons (collectively, the “Global Exchange Note”). The Global Exchange Note initially will be deposited upon issuance with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), in New York, New York, and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an account of a direct or indirect participant as described below. Except as set forth below, the Global Exchange Notes may be transferred, in whole

 

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and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Exchange Notes may not be exchanged for exchange notes in certificated form except in the limited circumstances described below. See “—Exchange of Global Exchange Notes for Certificated Notes.”

 

In addition, transfer of beneficial interests in the Global Exchange Note will be subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to time. The exchange notes may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the registrar.

 

Book-Entry Procedures for the Global Notes

 

The descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream set forth below are provided solely as a matter of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of the respective settlement systems and are subject to change by them from time to time. Neither we nor the initial purchasers take any responsibility for these operations or procedures, and investors are urged to contact the relevant system or its participants directly to discuss these matters.

 

DTC has advised us that it is (i) a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, (ii) a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law, (iii) a member of the Federal Reserve System, (iv) a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code, as amended, and (v) a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical transfer and delivery of certificates. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the initial purchasers), banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies, or indirect participants that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Investors who are not participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through participants or indirect participants.

 

We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC (i) upon deposit of each Global Exchange Note, DTC will credit the accounts of participants designated by the initial purchasers with an interest in the Global Exchange Note and (ii) ownership of the exchange notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the interests of participants) and the records of participants and the indirect participants (with respect to the interests of persons other than participants).

 

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the exchange notes represented by a Global Exchange Note to such persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in notes represented by a Global Exchange Note to pledge or transfer such interest to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or to otherwise take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest.

 

So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner of a Global Exchange Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the notes represented by the Global Exchange Note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Exchange Note will not be entitled to have exchange notes represented by such Global Exchange Note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated exchange notes, and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture for any purpose, including with respect to the giving of any direction, instruction or approval to the trustee thereunder. Accordingly, each holder owning a beneficial interest in a Global Exchange Note must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such holder is not a participant or an indirect participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such holder owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder of exchange notes under the indenture or such Global Exchange Note. We understand that under existing industry practice, in the event that we request any action of holders of exchange notes, or a holder that is an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Exchange Note desires to take any action that DTC, as the holder of such Global Exchange Note, is entitled to take, DTC would authorize the participants to take such action and the

 

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participants would authorize holders owning through such participants to take such action or would otherwise act upon the instruction of such holders. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of exchange notes by DTC, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of DTC relating to such exchange notes.

 

Payments with respect to the principal or, premium, if any, and interest on any notes represented by a Global Exchange Note registered in the name of DTC or its nominee on the applicable record date will be payable by the trustee to or at the direction of DTC or its nominee in its capacity as the registered holder of the Global Exchange Note representing such notes under the indenture. Under the terms of the indenture, we and the trustee may treat the persons in whose names the exchange notes, including the Global Exchange Notes, are registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payment thereon and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Accordingly, neither we nor the trustee has or will have any responsibility or liability for the payment of such amounts to owners of beneficial interests in a Global Exchange Note (including principal, premium, if any, and interest). Payments by the participants and the indirect participants to the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Exchange Note will be governed by standing instructions and customary industry practice and will be the responsibility of the participants or the indirect participants and DTC.

 

Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with DTC’s procedures, and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between participants in Euroclear or Clearstream will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures. Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable to the notes, cross-market transfers between the participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective depositary. However, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Exchange Notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly to the depositaries for Euroclear or Clearstream.

 

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream participant purchasing an interest in a Global Exchange Note from a participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear and Clearstream) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream as a result of sales of interest in a global security by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream participant to a participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream following DTC’s settlement date.

 

Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Exchange Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither we nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

 

Exchange Agent and Registrar for the Notes

 

The trustee will initially act as exchange agent and registrar. We may change the exchange agent or registrar without prior notice to the holders of the notes, and we or any of our Subsidiaries may act as exchange agent or registrar.

 

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Transfer and Exchange

 

A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of exchange notes. Holders will be required to pay all taxes due on transfer. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange any exchange note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any exchange note for a period of 15 days before a selection of exchange notes to be redeemed. See “—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form” above for additional information.

 

Exchange of Global Exchange Notes for Certificated Exchange Notes

 

A Global Exchange Note is exchangeable for definitive exchange notes in registered certificated form (“Certificated Notes”) if:

 

  (1)   DTC (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Exchange Notes and the Company fails to appoint a successor depositary within 90 days or (b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act;

 

  (2)   the Company, at its option, notifies the trustee that it elects to cause the issuance of the Certificated Exchange Notes; or

 

  (3)   there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the exchange notes.

 

In all cases, Certificated Exchange Notes delivered in exchange for any Global Exchange Note or beneficial interests in Global Exchange Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures) and will bear the applicable restrictive legend referred to in the Indenture, unless that legend is not required by applicable law.

 

Exchange of Certificated Exchange Notes for Global Exchange Notes

 

Certificated Exchange Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests in any Global Exchange Note unless the transferor first delivers to the trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply with the appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such notes and written instructions directing the trustee to reflect the increase the amount of exchange notes represented by the Global Exchange Notes on its books.

 

Covenants

 

Limitation on Liens

 

We have agreed that we will not, and we will not permit any of our subsidiaries to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness, if that Indebtedness is secured by a Lien upon any Specified Property now owned or hereafter acquired, unless, together with the issuance, assumption or guarantee of such Indebtedness, the exchange notes shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Indebtedness.

 

This restriction does not apply to:

 

  (i)  

any Lien on any property acquired, constructed or improved by us or any subsidiary after the date of the indenture which is created, incurred or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 360 days after, that acquisition (or in the case of any such property constructed or improved, after the completion or commencement of commercial operation of such property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such property or the costs of that construction or improvement (including costs such as escalation, interest during construction and finance costs); provided that in the case of any such construction or improvement the Lien shall not apply to any such property owned by us

 

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or any of our subsidiaries, other than any unimproved real property on which the property so constructed, or the improvement, is located;

 

  (ii)   any Lien on any property existing at the time of its acquisition and which is not created as a result of or in connection with or in anticipation of that acquisition (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of that property and is otherwise permitted by clause (i) above);

 

  (iii)   any Lien on any property acquired from a corporation which is merged with or into us or our Subsidiaries, or any Lien existing on property of a corporation which existed at the time such corporation becomes a subsidiary and, in either case, which is not created as a result of or in connection with or in anticipation of any such transaction (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such corporation and is otherwise permitted by clause (i) above);

 

  (iv)   any Lien which secures only Indebtedness owing by any of our Subsidiaries, to one or more of our Subsidiaries or, to us and one or more of our Subsidiaries;

 

  (v)   any Lien existing on the date of the indenture; and

 

  (vi)   any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v) inclusive; provided that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

 

We or any of our Subsidiaries, however, may issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien which would otherwise be prohibited under the provisions of the indenture described in this section or enter into Sale and Lease-Back Transactions that would otherwise be prohibited by the provisions of the indenture described below under “—Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions”; provided that the total amount of such of our Indebtedness and that of our Subsidiaries together with the aggregate Attributable Value of all such Sale and Lease-Back Transactions of ours and our Subsidiaries at any time outstanding shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the time any such Indebtedness is issued, assumed or guaranteed by us or any of our Subsidiaries or at the time any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is entered into.

 

Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions

 

We will not, and will not permit any subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Specified Property, unless either:

 

(i) we or that subsidiary would be entitled pursuant to the provisions of the indenture described above under “—Limitation on Liens” to issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such Specified Property without equally and ratably securing the exchange notes, or

 

(ii) we or that subsidiary shall apply or cause to be applied, in the case of a sale or transfer for cash, an amount equal to the net proceeds thereof and, in the case of a sale or transfer otherwise than for cash, an amount equal to the fair market value of the Specified Property so leased, to the retirement, within 360 days after the effective date of the Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of our Indebtedness ranking at least on a parity with the exchange notes and owing to a person other than us or any of our affiliates or to the construction or improvement of real property or personal property used by us or any of our Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business. These restrictions will not apply to:

 

(1) transactions providing for a lease term, including any renewal, of not more than five years, and

 

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(2) transactions between us and any subsidiary or between subsidiaries.

 

Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance

 

We may not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any person, unless:

 

(i) the successor corporation shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Chile, and shall expressly assume by a supplemental indenture the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the exchange notes then outstanding and the performance of every covenant in the indenture on our part to be performed or observed;

 

(ii) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(iii) we shall have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with the foregoing provisions relating to such transaction.

 

In case of any consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, the successor corporation will succeed to and be substituted for us as obligor on the notes, with the same effect as if it had been named in the indenture as us.

 

Definitions

 

The following are some terms defined in the indenture:

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified person, any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Attributable Value” means, as to any particular lease under which we or any of our Subsidiaries is at any time liable as lessee and any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended) discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such date at a rate per annum equivalent to the interest rate inherent in such lease (as determined in good faith by us in accordance with generally accepted financial practice).

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total of all assets (including revaluations thereof as a result of commercial appraisals, price-level restatement or otherwise) appearing on our consolidated balance sheet, net of all applicable reserves and deductions, but excluding goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and all other like intangible assets (which term shall not be construed to include such revaluations), less the aggregate of our and our subsidiaries’ current liabilities appearing on such consolidated balance sheet, less the current portion of long-term debt.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person (without duplication):

 

  (i)   any liability of such person:

 

  (1)   for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit, financial bond, or similar instrument or agreement,

 

  (2)  

evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument or agreement (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets of

 

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any kind (other than a trade payable or a current liability arising in the ordinary course of business),

 

  (3)   for the payment of money relating to any obligations under any capital lease of real or personal property, or

 

  (4)   for purposes of the Limitation on Liens and Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions covenants, under any agreement or instrument in respect of an interest rate or currency swap, exchange or hedging transaction or other financial derivatives transaction; and

 

  (ii)   any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) that the person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal liability.

 

For the purpose of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this definition, guarantees of (or obligations with respect to letters of credit or financial bonds supporting) Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall also not be included.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, Lien, security interest, charge or other similar encumbrance (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof other than a title retention agreement in connection with the purchase of goods in the ordinary course of business which is outstanding for not more than 360 days).

 

“Manufacturing Facility” means any of our or our Subsidiaries’ pulp mills, sawmills or wood processing facilities.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which we or any subsidiary sells or transfers any property to any Person with the intention of taking back a lease of such property pursuant to which the rental payments are calculated to amortize the purchase price of such property substantially over the useful life thereof and such property is in fact so leased.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means any of our Subsidiaries which would be a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC as in effect on the date of the indenture, assuming we are the registrant referred to in such definition.

 

“Specified Property” means Manufacturing Facilities and Timberlands.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other business entity of which we own or control (either directly or through one or more other Subsidiaries) more than 50% of the issued share capital or other ownership interests, in each case having ordinary voting power to elect or appoint directors, managers or trustees of such corporation or other business entity (whether or not capital stock or other ownership interests or any other class or classes shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency).

 

“Timberlands” means at any time property owned by us or any subsidiary, or as to which we or any subsidiary has cutting rights, which contains standing timber which is, or upon completion of a growth cycle then in process is expected to become, of commercial quantity and of merchantable quality; excluding from the term “Timberlands,” however, any property which at the time is held primarily for development (other than as timberlands) and/or sale, and not primarily for the production of any wood products.

 

Highly Leveraged Transactions; Change of Control

 

The indenture does not include any debt covenants or other provisions which afford debt holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction or a change of control.

 

Periodic Reports

 

The indenture provides that if we are not required to file with the SEC information, documents, or reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act, then we will file with the trustee and the SEC, in

 

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accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the SEC, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents, and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act in respect of a security of a “foreign private issuer” (as defined in Rule 3b-4 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) listed and registered on a securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations.

 

Events of Default

 

An “Event of Default,” with respect to the exchange notes is defined in the indenture as:

 

  (i)   a failure of us to pay any principal of the exchange notes, when due and payable, whether at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

 

  (ii)   a failure of us for 30 days to pay interest or any additional amounts when due and payable on the exchange notes;

 

  (iii)   a failure of us or any of our subsidiaries to perform or observe any other term, covenant, warranty or obligation in the exchange notes, not otherwise expressly included as an Event of Default in (i) or (ii) above, and the continuance of such default for more than 60 days after written notice of such default has been given to us by the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the notes then outstanding;

 

  (iv)   a failure of us or any of our subsidiaries to pay the principal of, or interest on, Indebtedness having a total principal amount exceeding US $40 million (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies) when due, if such default shall continue for more than the originally applicable period of grace, if any, and such Indebtedness shall have been declared due and payable; or

 

  (v)   events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to us or a Significant Subsidiary.

 

The indenture provides that (i) if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause (v) above) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the exchange notes, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the total principal amount of the exchange notes then outstanding may declare the principal of all such notes then outstanding and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately and (ii) if an Event of Default described in clause (v) above shall have occurred the principal of all such outstanding exchange notes and the interest accrued thereon, if any, shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of such exchange notes. The indenture provides that the exchange notes owned by us or any of our affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding for, among other purposes, declaring the acceleration of the maturity of the exchange notes. Upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past defaults, other than nonpayment of principal, interest and compliance with certain covenants, may be waived by the holders of a majority of the total principal amount of the exchange notes then outstanding.

 

The trustee must give to the holders of the exchange notes notice of all uncured defaults known to it with respect to the exchange notes within 30 days after the trustee becomes aware of such a default; provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal, interest or additional amounts, the trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the holders of such exchange notes.

 

No holder of any exchange notes may institute any action under the indenture unless (a) such holder shall have given the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the exchange notes, (b) the holders of not less than 25% of the total principal amount of the exchange notes then outstanding shall have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default, (c) such holder or holders shall have offered the trustee such reasonable indemnity as the trustee may require, (d) the trustee shall have failed to institute an action for 60 days thereafter and (e) no inconsistent direction shall have been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by the holders of a majority of the total principal amount of the exchange notes. Such limitations, however, do not apply to any suit instituted by a holder of an exchange note for enforcement of payment of the principal or interest on the exchange notes on or after the respective due dates expressed in such debt security.

 

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The indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the trustee during default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any holders of the exchange notes, unless such holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity.

 

We are required to furnish to the trustee annually a statement as to the performance by us of certain of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default in such performance.

 

Payment of Additional Amounts

 

We are required to make all payments in respect of the exchange notes free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatever nature (or interest on any taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatever nature), imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, within or on behalf of Chile, Panama or any other jurisdiction in which we are organized or engaged in business for tax purposes or, in each case, any political subdivision or governmental authority of either thereof or therein having power to tax, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. In such event, we are required to pay such additional amounts (“additional amounts”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amounts received by the holders of notes (including additional amounts) after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts which would have been receivable in respect of the notes in the absence of such withholding or deduction, except that no such additional amounts shall be payable in respect of a exchange note:

 

  (i)   in the case of payments for which presentation of an exchange note is required, if such exchange note is presented for payment more than 30 days after the later of (a) the date on which such payment first became due and (b) if the full amount payable has not been received in the place of payment by the trustee on or prior to such due date, the date on which the full amount having been so received, notice to that effect shall have been given to the holder by the trustee, except to the extent that such holder would have been entitled to such additional amounts on presenting such notes for payment on the last day of such period of 30 days;

 

  (ii)   for any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar tax, duty, fine, assessment or other governmental charge;

 

  (iii)   if such exchange note is held by or on behalf of a holder or beneficial owner who is liable for taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges in respect of such note by reason of having some present or former, direct or indirect, connection with Chile, Panama or any other jurisdiction in which we are organized or engaged in business for tax purposes (or any political subdivision or governmental authority either thereof or therein), as the case may be, other than the mere holding of such exchange note or the receipt of payments in respect thereof; or

 

  (iv)   any combination of (i), (ii), or (iii).

 

In addition, no additional amounts shall be paid with respect to any payment to any holder of exchange notes who is a fiduciary or a partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such notes to the extent that the beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, the member of such partnership or the beneficial owner of such notes would not have been entitled to additional amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner held such exchange notes directly.

 

References to principal, interest, premium or other amounts payable in respect of the exchange notes shall be deemed also to refer to any additional amounts which may be payable.

 

We will also (i) make such withholding or deduction and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. We will furnish to the holders, within 60 days after the date the payment of any taxes so deducted or withheld is due pursuant to applicable law, either certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by us, or, if such receipts are not obtainable, other evidence of such payments by us reasonably satisfactory to the holders.

 

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We will pay any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes or any excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise in any jurisdiction from the execution, delivery or registration of the exchange notes or any other document or instrument relating to the issuance thereof, excluding any such taxes, charges or similar levies imposed by any jurisdiction outside of Chile or Panama.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The exchange notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the exchange notes to be redeemed, and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments of principal and interest on the exchange notes to be redeemed (exclusive of interest accrued to the applicable redemption date) discounted to that redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points; plus, in the case of both clause (i) and clause (ii) above, accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the exchange notes being redeemed to the date of redemption. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments of interest on the notes that are due and payable on or prior to a date fixed for redemption of exchange notes will be payable to the holders of those exchange notes registered as such at the close of business on the relevant record dates according to the terms and provisions of the indenture. In connection with such optional redemption, the following defined terms apply:

 

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding that redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date.

 

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate notes of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the exchange notes. “Independent Investment Banker” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us to act as the “Independent Investment Banker”.

 

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (i) the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third business day preceding that redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release designated H.15 (519) (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and designated “Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for US Government Securities” or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Independent Investment Banker for the notes obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer” means each of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. and their respective successors and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms that are Primary Treasury Dealers specified from time to time by us, provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary US Government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we shall substitute therefor another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

 

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Independent Investment Banker by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding that redemption date.

 

“Remaining Scheduled Payments” means, with respect to each exchange note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption, provided, however, that, if that redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such exchange notes, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to that redemption date.

 

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Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or any portion thereof called for redemption.

 

Upon presentation of any exchange note redeemed in part only, we will execute and the trustee will authenticate and deliver to us on the order of the holder thereof, at our expense, a new exchange note or exchange notes, of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the exchange note so presented.

 

Reacquisition. There is no restriction on our ability or any of our subsidiaries or affiliates to purchase or repurchase exchange notes.

 

Redemption for Taxation Reasons

 

We may redeem the exchange notes in whole, but not in part, upon giving not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ written notice to the holders of the exchange notes at their principal amount, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, if we certify to the trustee immediately prior to the giving of such notice that: we have or will become obligated to pay (x) additional amounts with respect to the notes as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of Panama or any other jurisdiction other than Chile in which we are organized or engaged in business for tax purposes, or, in each case, any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment occurs after the date of issuance of the exchange notes or (y) additional amounts with respect to the notes in excess of the additional amounts that would be payable were payments of interest on the exchange notes subject to a Chilean 4.0% withholding tax as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of Chile or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment occurs after the date of issuance of the exchange notes and, in the case of either (x) or (y), we cannot avoid such obligations by taking reasonable measures available to us; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which we would be obligated to pay such additional amounts, if payment in respect of the exchange notes were then due.

 

Prior to the effective date of any notice of redemption described in this paragraph, we shall deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that we are entitled to effect such redemption in accordance with the terms set forth in the indenture and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of the facts relating thereto (together with a written opinion of counsel to the effect that we have become obligated to pay such additional amounts or to withhold or deduct such Taxes, as the case may be, as a result of a change or amendment described above and that we cannot avoid payment of such additional amounts or withholding or deduction of such Taxes, as the case may be, by taking reasonable measures available to us and that all governmental approvals necessary for us to effect such redemption have been obtained and are in full force and effect or specifying any such necessary approvals that as of the date of such opinion have not been obtained).

 

Modification of the Indenture

 

We and the trustee may, without the consent of the holders of exchange notes, amend, waive or supplement the indenture or the exchange notes for certain specified purposes, including among other things:

 

  (i)   curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies; or

 

  (ii)   making any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the indenture or the exchange notes or making any other change to the indenture as shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the exchange notes in any material respect.

 

In addition, with certain exceptions, the indenture and the exchange notes may be modified by us and the trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the exchange notes affected thereby then outstanding, but no such modification may be made without the consent of the holder of each outstanding note affected by the modification which would:

 

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  (i)   change the maturity of any payment of principal of, or any installment of interest on, any such exchange note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or additional amounts, if any) payable thereon, or change the method of computing the amount of principal thereof or interest (or additional amounts, if any) payable thereon on any date, or change any place of payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any such note or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right of holders to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the date when due;

 

  (ii)   reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding exchange notes, where the consent of holders is required for any such modification or where the consent of holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or certain defaults thereunder and their consequences provided for in the indenture; or

 

  (iii)   modify any of the provisions of certain sections of the indenture, including the provisions summarized in this paragraph, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each outstanding exchange note affected by the modification.

 

The indenture provides that the exchange notes owned by us or any of our affiliates shall be deemed not to be outstanding for, among other purposes, consent to any such modification.

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

We may, at our option, at any time upon the satisfaction of certain conditions described below, elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to the exchange notes (a “Defeasance”). In general, upon a defeasance, we shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the exchange notes and to have satisfied all of our obligations under the exchange notes, except for:

 

  (i)   the rights of holders of such exchange notes to receive, solely from the trust fund established for such purposes as described below, payments in respect of the principal of, and interest, and additional amounts, if any, on such exchange notes when such payments are due;

 

  (ii)   certain provisions relating to ownership, registration and transfer of such exchange notes;

 

  (iii)   the covenant relating to the maintenance of an office or agency in New York City; and

 

  (iv)   certain provisions relating to the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee.

 

In addition, we may, at our option, at any time, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions described below, elect to be released with respect to the exchange notes from the covenants of the indenture described above under the caption “—Covenants” (a “Covenant Defeasance”). Following such Covenant Defeasance, the occurrence of a breach or violation of any such covenant with respect to the notes will not constitute an Event of Default under the indenture, and certain other events (not including, among other things, nonpayment of other obligations or bankruptcy and insolvency events) described under “—Events of Default” also will not constitute Events of Default.

 

In order to cause a Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the exchange notes, we will be required to satisfy, among other conditions, the following:

 

  (i)   we shall have irrevocably deposited with the trustee in trust cash or US Government Obligations, or a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of an internationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay and discharge the principal of, additional amounts, if any, and each installment of interest on, the exchange notes on the stated maturity of such principal or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of the exchange notes;

 

  (ii)   in the case of a Defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that:

 

  (x)   we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or

 

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  (y)   since the date of the indenture there has been a change in the applicable US federal income tax statutes or regulations, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the holders of the exchange notes will not recognize gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to US federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

  (iii)   in the case of a Covenant Defeasance, we shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the exchange notes will not recognize gain or loss for US federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to US federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

  (iv)   no Event of Default, or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to the exchange notes, including with respect to certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, at any time during the period ending on the 121st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period); and

 

  (v)   we shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that payments of amounts deposited in trust with the trustee, as described above, will not be subject to future taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, within or on behalf of Panama, Chile or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having power to tax, except to the extent that additional amounts in respect thereof shall have been deposited in trust with the trustee as described above.

 

The Trustee

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank is the trustee under the indenture and has been appointed by us as registrar and paying agent with respect to the exchange notes. The address of the trustee is JPMorgan Chase Bank, 4 New York Plaza, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10004. JPMorgan Chase Bank is an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., one of the initial purchasers of the outstanding notes.

 

Governing Law

 

The indenture provides that it and the notes will be governed by, and be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

We have irrevocably consented to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States federal court sitting in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States (the “New York Courts”), and any appellate court from any of these courts, and have waived any immunity from the jurisdiction of the New York Courts over any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with the indenture and the exchange notes. We have appointed CT Corporation System as initial authorized agent upon which all writs, process and summonses may be served in any suit, action or proceeding brought in connection with the indenture or the exchange notes against us in any such court and have agreed that such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as any of the exchange notes remain outstanding or until the irrevocable appointment by us of a successor in the City of New York as our authorized agent for such purpose and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor.

 

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TAXATION

 

General

 

This following summary contains a description of the principal Panamanian, Chilean and United States federal income tax considerations of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes, but does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase the notes. This summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, locality or taxing jurisdiction other than the United States, Panama and Chile.

 

This summary is based on the tax laws of Panama, Chile and the United States as in effect on the date of this prospectus, as well as regulations, rulings and decisions of Panama, Chile and the United States available on or before such date and now in effect. All of the foregoing are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.

 

In deciding whether to tender outstanding notes in the exchange offer you should consult their own tax advisors as to the Panamanian, Chilean, United States or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the notes, including in particular the application of the tax considerations discussed below to their particular situations, as well as the application of state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

 

Panamanian Taxation

 

As the notes will be issued and offered outside of Panama to non-Panamanian purchasers, the notes will qualify for an exemption from Panamanian income taxation pursuant to the currently in effect Panamanian Fiscal Code as amended and implemented. Thus, the exchange of an outstanding note for an exchange note in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event in Panama for the holders of notes, and there will be no taxes imposed by withholding or otherwise in Panama on interest income, capital gains or appreciations of the holders of the notes or any taxes on the holders of the notes in the nature of estate duty or capital transfer tax.

 

Chilean Taxation

 

The following is a general summary of the relevant consequences under Chilean tax law, as currently in effect, of an investment in the notes held by a Foreign Holder. The term “Foreign Holder” means (i) an individual who is neither domiciled nor resident in Chile (for purposes of Chilean taxation, an individual is domiciled in Chile if he or she has his or her principal place of business in Chile, and resident in Chile if he or she has resided in Chile for more than six months in one calendar year, or a total of more than six months in two consecutive fiscal years) or (ii) a legal entity that is not organized under the laws of Chile, unless the notes are assigned to a branch or an agent, representative or permanent establishment of such entity in Chile.

 

Payments of interest on these notes by our Panamanian agency will not be subject to Chilean withholding tax. The exchange of the outstanding notes for the exchange notes in the exchange offer will not be a taxable event in Chile for the holders of the notes. However, in the event that we make payments of interest in respect of the notes directly from Chile to a Foreign Holder, these payments will be subject to a 4% Chilean withholding tax. In such an event, the payor of the interest shall give to the Chilean Revenue Service notice of the terms of the transaction through an affidavit that shall be presented by the following March.

 

As described above, we have agreed, subject to specific exceptions and limitations, to pay to the foreign holders of the notes additional amounts in respect of the Chilean withholding tax on interest mentioned above so that the interest the Foreign Holder receives, net of the Chilean withholding tax on interest, will equal the amounts that the Foreign Holder could have received in the absence of such Chilean withholding tax on interest. See “Description of the Notes—Payment of Additional Amounts.”

 

Under Chile’s Income Tax Law and regulations thereunder, payments of principal on the notes that we make to a Foreign Holder will not be subject to any Chilean taxes.

 

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According to general principles of Chile’s Income Tax Law, any capital gains realized that a Foreign Holder realizes on the sale or other disposition of the notes generally will not be subject to any Chilean income taxes; provided that the sale or disposition occurs outside of Chile.

 

A Foreign Holder will not be liable in Chile for estate, gift, inheritance or similar taxes with respect to the notes unless the Foreign Holder’s notes are located in Chile at the time of his or her death or, if the Foreign Holder was domiciled in Chile at the date of his or her death, the notes were acquired with money from Chilean sources.

 

The initial issuance of the notes is subject to stamp tax at a rate of 1.608% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes when and if the notes are brought into Chile or accounted for in Chile or protocolized before a notary public in Chile. If the stamp tax is not paid when due, Chilean tax law imposes a penalty of up to three times the amount of the tax due plus interest. In addition, until such tax (and any penalty) is paid, Chilean courts would not enforce any action based on the notes.

 

United States Taxation

 

The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax consequences for beneficial owners of the notes that (1) are US Persons (as defined below), (2) are not residents or domiciliaries of Chile and (3) do not hold the notes through a branch or a permanent establishment in Chile. As used in this summary, a US Person is a person who is for United States federal income tax purposes:

 

    a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

    a corporation or other entity properly classified as a corporation for US federal income tax purposes created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

    an estate whose income is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or

 

    a trust that (x) is subject to the primary supervision of a court within the United States and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (y) has a valid election in effect under applicable United States Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

This summary is based on current law, which is subject to change (perhaps retroactively). It is for general purposes only and should not be considered tax advice. This summary does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax considerations to you in light of your particular circumstances. In addition, it does not represent a detailed description of the United States federal income tax consequences to you if you are subject to special treatment under the United States federal income tax laws, including if you are:

 

    an insurance company;

 

    a tax-exempt organization;

 

    a regulated investment company or real estate investment trust;

 

    a US Person whose “functional currency” is not the US dollar;

 

    a person holding the notes as part of a hedging, integrated, conversion or constructive sale transaction or a straddle;

 

    a financial institution;

 

    a dealer in securities or currencies;

 

    a trader that elects to mark-to-market its securities;

 

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    an investor in a pass-through entity; or

 

    a person liable for the alternative minimum tax.

 

This discussion is limited to holders who hold their notes as “capital assets” as defined under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”). This discussion does not consider the effect of any state, local or foreign tax laws or any United States tax considerations (e.g., estate or gift) other than United States federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to particular holders.

 

If a partnership holds the notes, the tax treatment of the partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner in a partnership holding our notes, you should consult your tax advisor.

 

Except to the limited extent below under “Information Reporting and Backup Withholding,” the following discussion does not address a beneficial holder who is not a US Person (a “Non-US Holder”) and each Non-US Holder is advised to consult his, her or its own tax advisor regarding the tax considerations applicable to an investment in the notes.

 

YOU SHOULD CONSULT YOUR OWN TAX ADVISOR CONCERNING THE PARTICULAR UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO YOU OF THE OWNERSHIP OF THE NOTES, AS WELL AS THE CONSEQUENCES TO YOU ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION.

 

Exchange of Notes

 

The exchange of an outstanding note for an exchange note in the exchange offer will not constitute a taxable event to you. Consequently, no gain or loss will be recognized by you upon receipt of an exchange note, your holding period for the exchange note will include your holding period for the outstanding note and your basis in the exchange note will be the same as your basis in the outstanding note immediately before the exchange.

 

Payments of Interest

 

Interest received on a note will be taxable as ordinary income at the time it is received or accrued, depending on your method of accounting for tax purposes. In addition to interest on the notes, you will be required to include in your income any additional amounts paid in respect of the notes, including any tax withheld from the interest payment even if you did not in fact receive this withheld tax. You may be entitled to a deduction or credit for such tax, subject to applicable limits under the Code. The limitation on foreign taxes eligible for the United States foreign tax credit is calculated separately with respect to specific classes of income. For this purpose, interest income that you receive on the notes, or that the guarantor pays under the guarantee, including any additional amounts and any withheld tax, generally will be treated as foreign source income and will be considered “passive” income or, for certain holders, “financial services” income. You may be subject to special rules if your foreign source income during the taxable year consists entirely of “qualified passive income” and if you have $300 or less ($600 or less if you file a joint return) of creditable foreign taxes which you have paid or accrued during the taxable year. Guidance issued by the United States Treasury may deny a foreign tax credit for foreign taxes imposed with respect to your notes if you hold such notes in an arrangement that is expected to result in insubstantial economic profit after non-United States taxes. The rules governing foreign tax credits are complex. You are therefore urged to consult your advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit in your particular circumstances.

 

Market Discount

 

If you purchase a note for an amount that is less than its stated redemption price at maturity, the amount of the difference will be treated as “market discount” for United States federal income tax purposes, unless the difference is less than a specified de minimis amount. Under the market discount rules, you will be required to treat any payment, other than qualified stated interest, on, or any gain on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of, a note as ordinary income to the extent of the market discount that you have note previously included in income and you are treated as having accrued on the note at the time of its payment or disposition. In addition, you may be required to defer, until the maturity of the note or its earlier disposition in a taxable transaction, the deduction of all or a portion of the interest expense on any indebtedness attributable to the note. In certain

 

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circumstances, you may elect, on a bond-by-bond basis, to deduct the deferred interest expense in a tax year prior to the year of disposition. You should consult your own tax advisor before making this election. Any market discount will be considered to accrue ratably during the period from the date of acquisition to the maturity date of the note, unless you elect to accrue on a constant interest method. Your election to accrue market discount on a constant interest method is to be made for the taxable year in which you acquired the note, applies only to that note, and may not be revoked. You may elect to include market discount in income currently as it accrues, on either a ratable or constant interest method, in which case the rule described above regarding deferral of interest deductions will not apply. Your election to include market discount in income currently, once made, applies to all market discount obligations acquired by you on or after the first taxable year to which your election applies and may not be revoked without the consent of the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”). Yu should consult your own tax advisor before making either election described in this paragraph.

 

Amortizable Bond Premium

 

If you purchase a note for an amount in excess of the sum of all amounts payable on the note after the purchase date other than qualified stated interest, you will be considered to have purchased the note at a “premium.” You generally may elect to amortize the premium over the remaining term of the note on a constant yield method as an offset to interest when includible in income under your regular accounting method. If you do not elect to amortize bond premium, that premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss you would otherwise recognize on disposition of the note. Your election to amortize premium on a constant yield method will also apply to all debt obligations held or subsequently acquired by you on or after the first day of the first taxable year to which the election applies. You may not revoke the election without the consent of the IRS. You should consult your own tax advisor before making this election.

 

Purchase, Sale, Retirement and Other Disposition of the Notes

 

When you sell, exchange or retire a note, you will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount you receive (not including any accrued interest you have not included in income, which will be taxable as ordinary income) and your adjusted tax basis in the note. Your tax basis in a note will generally be your cost of obtaining the note. Your gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange or retirement of a note will generally be treated as United States source gain or loss. Your gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of the sale, exchange or retirement of a note, you have held the note for more than one year. If you are an individual and the debt security being sold, exchanged or retired is a capital asset held for more than one year, you may be eligible for reduced rates of taxation on any capital gain recognized. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations.

 

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

 

In general, unless you are an exempt recipient such as a corporation, information reporting will apply to principal and interest payments that we make to you and to the proceeds from the sale of your note. Additionally, if you fail to provide your taxpayer identification number, or in the case of interest payments, fail either to report in full dividend and interest income or to make certain certifications, you will be subject to backup withholding. If you are a Non-US Holder, information reporting and backup withholding could apply to you if you fail to properly certify that you are not a US Person.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability, provided you furnish the required information to the Internal Revenue Service.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each broker-dealer that receives exchange notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such exchange notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of exchange notes received in exchange for outstanding notes where such outstanding notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. To the extent any such broker-dealer participates in the exchange offer and so notifies us, or causes us to be so notified in writing, we have agreed that a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to such broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale, and will promptly send additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the letter of transmittal.

 

We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of exchange notes by broker-dealers. Exchange notes received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the exchange notes or a combination of such methods of resale, at prevailing market prices at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such exchange notes. Any broker-dealer that resells exchange notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such exchange notes may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on any such resale of exchange notes and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer (other than commissions and concessions of any broker-dealers), subject to certain prescribed limitations, and will indemnify the holders of the outstanding notes against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities that may arise under the Securities Act.

 

By its acceptance of the exchange offer, any broker-dealer that receives exchange notes pursuant to the exchange offer hereby agrees to notify us prior to using the prospectus in connection with the sale or transfer of exchange notes, and acknowledges and agrees that, upon receipt of notice from us of the happening of any event which makes any statement in the prospectus untrue in any material respect or which requires the making of any changes in the prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading or which may impose upon us disclosure obligations that may have a material adverse effect on us (which notice we agree to deliver promptly to such broker-dealer), such broker-dealer will suspend use of the prospectus until we have notified such broker-dealer that delivery of the prospectus may resume and has furnished copies of any amendment or supplement to the prospectus to such broker-dealer.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

 

The validity of the exchange notes will be passed upon for us by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman, Panama, Panama and by Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla, Santiago, Chile.

 

INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2002 and 2001 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002 included herein and incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002 have been so included in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers, our independent accountants, given on the authority of such firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

With respect to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial information as of June 30, 2003 and for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2002 and 2003, included in this prospectus, PricewaterhouseCoopers reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated August 8, 2003, appearing herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited condensed consolidated financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report with respect to such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited condensed consolidated financial information because that report is not a “report” or a “part” of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

 

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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 27, 2003

 


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form 20-F

 


 

¨   REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

OR

 

x   ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002

 

OR

 

¨   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

for the transition period from                  to                 

 

Commission File Number: 33-99720

 


 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Arauco and Constitution Pulp Inc.

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

Republic of Chile

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 


 

El Golf 150

14th Floor

Santiago, Chile

(Address of principal executive offices)

 


 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

None

 

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act:

 

Title of each class:


6.75% Notes due 2003

6.95% Notes due 2005

7% Notes due 2007

7.20% Notes due 2009

8.625% Notes due 2010

7.75% Notes due 2011

7.50% Notes due 2017

 


 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report: Shares of Common Stock, without par value: 113,152,446.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports) and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

 

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow:    Item 17  ¨    Item 18  x

 


 

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page

ITEM 1.

   IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS    65

ITEM 2.

   OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE    65

ITEM 3.

   KEY INFORMATION    65

ITEM 4.

   INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY    71

ITEM 5.

   OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS    95

ITEM 6.

   DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES    112

ITEM 7.

   MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS    116

ITEM 8.

   FINANCIAL INFORMATION    118

ITEM 9.

   THE OFFER AND LISTING    119

ITEM 10.

   ADDITIONAL INFORMATION    119

ITEM 11.

   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK    127

ITEM 12.

   DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES    129

ITEM 13.

   DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES    129

ITEM 14.

   MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND THE USE OF PROCEEDS    129

ITEM 15.

   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES    129

ITEM 16.

   [RESERVED]    129

ITEM 17.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    130

ITEM 18.

   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS    130

ITEM 19.

   EXHIBITS    130

 

 

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Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. is a sociedad anónima abierta (a public corporation) organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile. In this annual report, when we refer to the “Company,” we mean Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., and when we refer to “Arauco,” or “we,” we mean the Company together with its subsidiaries. When we refer to “Chile” or the “Republic” in this annual report we mean the Republic of Chile, and when we refer to the “Government” we mean the government of the Republic of Chile. All references to “tons” are to metric tons (1,000 kilograms), which are equal to 2,204.6 pounds. One “hectare” equals 10,000 square meters or 2.471 acres. Any discrepancies in any table between totals and the sums of the amounts listed are due to rounding.

 

Unless otherwise specified, all references to “$”, “U.S.$”, “U.S. dollars” and “dollars” are to United States dollars, references to “Chilean pesos” or “Ch$” are to Chilean pesos, references to “UF” are to Unidades de Fomento, a daily indexed Chilean peso-denominated monetary unit that takes into account the effect of the Chilean inflation rate, and references to “Argentine pesos” are to Argentine pesos.

 

Item 18 of this annual report includes our audited consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2001 and 2002 and for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002, including the notes thereto, which have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, known as “U.S. GAAP.”

 

Certain selected financial data as of and for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002, prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, is provided in Item 3 herein. Audited information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 is not available. Accordingly, the selected financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 provided in Item 3 herein is unaudited. It is derived from Arauco’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 as prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in Chile, known as “Chilean GAAP.”

 

For the convenience of the reader, we have included translations of certain amounts into dollars at a specified rate. Unless otherwise indicated, the U.S. dollar equivalent for information in Chilean pesos is based on the Observed Exchange Rate (as defined under “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls––Chile”) reported by Banco Central de Chile (the Central Bank of Chile, which we refer to as the “Central Bank”) for December 31, 2002, which was Ch$718.61 = U.S.$1.00. You should not construe these translations as representations that the Chilean peso amounts actually represent such dollar amounts or could be converted into dollars at the rates indicated or at any other rate. The Observed Exchange Rate on June 23, 2003 was Ch$705.46 = U.S.$1.00. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not report a noon buying rate for Chilean pesos. See “Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rates” for information regarding historical rates of exchange in Chile from January 1, 1998. Unless otherwise specified, references to the devaluation or the appreciation of the Chilean peso against the U.S. dollar are in nominal terms (without adjusting for inflation), based on the Observed Exchange Rates for the relevant period.

 

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Identity of Directors, Senior Management and Advisers.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 2. Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 3. Key Information.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The selected financial information presented below is prepared in U.S. dollars in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of and for the years ended December 31, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. The selected U.S. GAAP financial information should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, Arauco’s audited consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP included in Item 18. The report of the independent accountants is included in this annual report.

 

The selected U.S. GAAP financial information as of and for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002 is derived from Arauco’s audited consolidated financial statements provided in Item 18.

 

Audited information prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 is not available. Accordingly, the selected information presented below as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 is unaudited. It is derived from Arauco’s audited consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998 as prepared in accordance with Chilean GAAP.

 

The financial data in the following table for all periods are expressed in U.S. dollars, the currency in which Arauco publishes its financial statements. See Note 1(m) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

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    At or for the year ended December 31,

 
    1998(1)

    1999(1)

    2000

    2001

    2002

 
    (in thousands of U.S.$, except ratios and per share data)  

Income Statement Data

                                       

Sales revenue

  U.S.$ 870,192     U.S.$ 1,089,928     U.S.$ 1,260,342     U.S.$ 1,173,826     U.S.$ 1,188,018  

Cost of sales

    (556,830 )     (595,086 )     (604,130 )     (689,837 )     (620,464 )

Depreciation

    (107,970 )     (105,053 )     (106,576 )     (119,796 )     (103,885 )

Administration and selling expenses

    (76,553 )     (88,207 )     (102,701 )     (94,047 )     (100,515 )

Operating income

    128,839       301,582       446,935       270,146       363,154  

Interest income

    16,009       14,723       12,563       14,794       21,995  

Other income (expense)

    11,023       15,493       5,151       (3,871 )     1,513  

Foreign exchange gains (losses

    1,399       (2,578 )     (5,070 )     (26,058 )     11,668  

Interest expenses

    (76,008 )     (51,526 )     (62,201 )     (62,362 )     (61,692 )

Income before taxes, minority interest and equity from earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    81,262       277,694       397,378       192,649       336,638  

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

    (6,640 )     (6,419 )     (55,552 )     (12,956 )     (52,578 )

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

    (2,099 )     (43 )     (2,051 )     (225 )     (267 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

    1,141       4,829       1,377       1,463       2,558  

Net income

    73,664       276,061       341,152       180,931       286,351  

Dividends paid

    20,290       47,105       193,353       67,610       71,702  

Balance Sheet Data

                                       

Property, plant and equipment (less forests), net

    1,500,981       1,573,001       1,639,293       1,653,466       1,851,240  

Forests

    960,392       1,040,871       1,078,394       1,167,462       1,188,013  

Total assets

    3,213,397       3,347,920       3,550,989       3,899,257       4,110,336  

Total long-term liabilities

    1,242,587       1,200,709       1,242,645       1,711,740       1,570,080  

Total shareholders’ equity

    1,495,359       1,707,433       1,832,108       1,974,785       2,157,665  

Other Financial Data

                                       

Capital expenditures(2)

    148,752       257,202       263,588       223,831       330,804  

Depreciation

    107,970       105,053       106,576       119,796       103,885  

Number of shares

    113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446       113,152,446  

Net income from operations per share

    0.65       2.44       3.01       1.60       2.53  

Dividends per share

    0.18       0.42       1.71       0.60       0.63  

Cash Flow Data

                                       

Total operating cash flow

    183,091       510,159       417,353       (55,692 )     481,651  

Total flow arising from financing activities

    (125,169 )     (231,230 )     34,268       238,453       (124,566 )

Total flow arising from investment activities

    (51,646 )     (206,409 )     (405,342 )     (224,154 )     (330,362 )

(1)   In 2000, the Company acquired 97.5% of the outstanding shares of Forestal Cholguán S.A., of which 85.8% were acquired from indirect controlling shareholders of the Company and considered to be an exchange of ownership interests between companies under common control. As such, the financial information presented above for the years 1999 and 1998 has been adjusted to incorporate the historical value of the assets and liabilities acquired.
(2)   Accrued for the period. See Arauco’s consolidated financial statements included in Item 18.

 

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EXCHANGE RATES

 

The following table sets forth, for the periods and dates indicated, certain information concerning the Observed Exchange Rate reported by the Central Bank. No representation is made that the Chilean peso or U.S. dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars or Chilean pesos, as the case may be, at the rates indicated or at any other rate. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York does not report a noon buying rate for Chilean pesos. On June 23, 2003, the Observed Exchange Rate was Ch$705.46 = U.S.$1.00. See “Item 10. Additional Information—Exchange Controls.”

 

     Observed Exchange Rates (Ch$ per U.S.$)

Year


   Low(1)

   High(1)

   Average(2)

   Period-End

1998

   439.18    475.41    460.29    472.41

1999

   468.69    550.93    504.78    530.07

2000

   501.04    580.37    539.49    573.65

2001

   557.13    716.62    634.94    654.79

2002

   641.75    756.56    688.94    718.61

December

   692.94    718.61    701.95    718.61

2003 (through June 23)

   694.22    758.21    723.97    705.46

January

   709.22    738.87    722.48    736.15

February

   733.10    755.26    745.21    750.28

March

   725.79    758.21    743.28    731.56

April

   704.42    729.73    718.25    704.42

May

   694.22    714.10    703.58    714.10

June (through June 23)

   705.24    717.40    711.03    705.46

Source: Central Bank.

(1)   Exchange rates are the actual high and low, on a day-by-day basis, for each period.
(2)   For the years 1998 through 2002 and for 2003 (through June 23), the average of monthly average rates during the period. For the months January through June 23, 2003, the daily average rates during the period.

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Arauco is subject to various changing economic, political, social and competitive conditions, particularly in its principal markets. These conditions are described below.

 

Risks Relating to Arauco and the Forestry Industry

 

Fluctuations in market price for Arauco’s products could adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations

 

Prices for pulp, forestry and wood products, like those of other commodities, can be expected to fluctuate significantly. Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if the price of pulp or other forestry products were to decline significantly from current levels. The prices that Arauco is able to obtain for pulp products and, to a lesser extent, other forestry products depends on:

 

    prevailing world prices, which historically have been subject to significant fluctuations over relatively short periods of time, depending on worldwide demand;

 

    world production capacity;

 

    the business strategies adopted by major integrated forestry, pulp and paper producers and other major producers; and

 

    the availability of substitutes.

 

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All of these factors are beyond Arauco’s control. For example, as an indication of the cyclicality of pulp products’ prices, the average price (CIF) for Norscan bleached softwood kraft market pulp (pulp produced in Canada and Northern Europe sold to manufacturers of paper products delivered in Northern Europe, “NBSK”) was U.S.$520 in 1999, rose to U.S.$681 in 2000, fell to U.S.$539 in 2001 and fell again to U.S.$460 in 2002. Worldwide competition in the markets for Arauco’s products could adversely affect its business and results of operations.

 

Arauco experiences substantial worldwide competition in each of its geographical markets and in each of its product lines. Several of Arauco’s competitors are larger than it and have greater financial and other resources. The market pulp industry is highly competitive and is also sensitive to changes in industry capacity, producer inventories and cyclical changes in the world’s economies, all of which may significantly affect selling prices and thereby Arauco’s profitability. Increased competition could materially and adversely affect Arauco’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Arauco depends on free international trade as well as economic and other conditions in its principal export markets

 

During 2002, export sales accounted for approximately 86.4% of Arauco’s total sales revenues. During this period approximately 35.9% of Arauco’s export sales were to Europe, 33.3% to Asia, 15.4% to Central and South America and 12.8% to North America. As a result, Arauco’s results of operations depend to a significant degree on economic, political and regulatory conditions in its principal export markets. Arauco’s ability to compete effectively in its export markets could be materially and adversely affected by a number of factors beyond its control including a deterioration in macroeconomic conditions, exchange rate volatility, government subsidies, or the imposition of increased tariffs or other trade barriers. If Arauco’s ability to sell its products competitively in one or more of its significant export markets were impaired by any such developments, it might be difficult to re-allocate its products to other markets on equally favorable terms and its financial condition and results of operations might be adversely affected.

 

The application of environmental regulations could adversely affect Arauco’s ability to accomplish its development goals and adversely affect its results of operations

 

Arauco and other Chilean companies are subject to numerous national and local environmental laws concerning, among other things, health, the handling and disposal of wastes and discharges into the air and water. Chilean environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent in recent years, particularly in connection with the approval of new projects, and this trend is likely to continue. Arauco has made, and expects to continue to make, substantial expenditures to comply with such environmental requirements.

 

Chilean environmental legislation to which Arauco is subject includes Ley No. 19,300 Sobre Bases Generales del Medio Ambiente (the “Chilean Environmental Law”). Under the Chilean Environmental Law, Arauco is required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may affect the environment. The regulations also establish procedures for private citizens to object to the plans or studies submitted by project owners. Future developments in the establishment or implementation of environmental requirements, or in the interpretation of such requirements, could result in substantially increased capital, operating or compliance costs or otherwise adversely affect Arauco’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our activities in Argentina are subject to Argentine environmental legislation including regulation by municipal, provincial and federal governmental authorities. Our Argentine subsidiary Alto Paraná S.A. (“Alto Paraná”) has incurred and expects to continue to incur capital and operating expenditures to comply with applicable environmental requirements. Changes in environmental laws, or the interpretation thereof, may require Alto Paraná to incur significant unforeseen capital or operating expenditures to comply with such requirements. The occurrence of such events could have an adverse effect on Alto Paraná’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Pulp producers and forestry companies around the world are periodically subject to adverse effects from unfavorable market perceptions of the environmental impact of their operations. Given the possibility of unanticipated regulatory or other developments, including more stringent environmental laws, the amount and timing of future expenditures which Arauco will be required to make in order to remain in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations could vary substantially from their current levels. These changes could limit the availability of Arauco’s funds for other purposes.

 

In addition to the financial costs of compliance, Arauco is required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may affect the environment. As a result, application of environmental laws may require Arauco to change its development plans and, thus, may adversely affect the manner in which Arauco seeks to implement its business strategy and its ability to accomplish its development goals.

 

Fire or disease could affect Arauco’s forests and manufacturing processes and in turn adversely affect its financial condition and results of operations

 

Our operations are subject to various risks affecting our forests and manufacturing facilities, including fire and disease. Although in the past the forestry industries in Chile and Argentina have not been affected significantly

 

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by certain pests and diseases afflicting radiata or taeda pine plantations in other parts of the world, such pests or diseases may appear in Chile or Argentina in the future. Arauco’s operations and, as a result, its financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected if any of such risks were to be realized.

 

Risks Relating to Chile

 

Chilean political and economic conditions have a direct impact on Arauco’s business and the market price of the Notes

 

A substantial portion of Arauco’s assets and operations are located in Chile and, in 2002, approximately 10.6% of Arauco’s sales revenue was derived from sales in Chile. Accordingly, Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations are to a considerable extent dependent upon economic conditions prevailing from time to time in Chile. Future developments in the Chilean economy could adversely affect Arauco’s financial condition or results of operations and may impair its ability to proceed with its strategic plan of business.

 

The Chilean government has exercised and continues to exercise a substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector, and has changed monetary, fiscal, taxation and other policies to influence the course of Chile’s economy. Arauco has no control over, and cannot predict, how such intervention and government policies will affect the Chilean economy and, both directly and indirectly, Arauco’s operations and revenues. Arauco’s operations, financial condition and the market price of the Notes (as defined below) may be adversely affected by changes in policy involving exchange controls, tax and other matters, as well as factors such as:

 

    fluctuation in exchange rates;

 

    base interest rate fluctuations; and

 

    other political, diplomatic, social and economic developments in or affecting Chile.

 

Changes in inflation, which has been a rate of 2.6% in 2001 and 2.8% in 2002, as measured by changes in the official consumer price index and as reported by the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas (the Chilean National Institute of Statistics), may also adversely affect Arauco’s operations, financial condition and the market price of the Notes (as defined below). Future developments in the Chilean economy and government policies may adversely affect Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, such developments may impact the market price of the Company’s 6.75% Notes Due 2003 (the “6.75% Notes”), 6.95% Notes Due 2005 (the “6.95% Notes”), 7% Notes Due 2007 (the “7% Notes”), 7.20% Notes Due 2009 (the “7.20% Notes”), 8.625% Notes Due 2010 (the “8.625% Notes”), 7.75% Notes Due 2011 (the “7.75% Notes”) and 7.50% Notes Due 2017 (the “7.50% Notes”) (together, the “Notes”).

 

Risks Relating to Argentina

 

The economic crisis in Argentina may adversely affect Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations

 

As of December 31, 2002, approximately 20.0% of Arauco’s consolidated assets were located in Argentina, and in 2002 approximately 12.8% of its net sales were derived from Alto Paraná, its Argentine subsidiary. Accordingly, Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations to a certain extent are dependent upon political and economic conditions prevailing in Argentina. Since 1999, the Argentine economy has been in an economic recession marked by reduced levels of consumption and investment and an elevated unemployment rate. The Argentine gross domestic product decreased by 3.4% in 1999, 0.8% in 2000, 4.4% in 2001 and 10.9% (estimated) in 2002.

 

The current Argentine economic crisis may have an adverse effect on Arauco’s Argentine operations, including Alto Paraná’s ability to raise capital, and as a result, its overall financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Argentine government has exercised, and continues to exercise, a significant influence over many aspects of the Argentine economy. Accordingly, Argentine government actions, whether taken to

 

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address the current economic crisis or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on the Argentine economy and private sector companies, including Alto Paraná.

 

Argentine Central Bank restrictions on the transfer of funds outside Argentina may impose an obstacle to Alto Paraná’s ability to transfer money abroad

 

The Company guarantees some of Alto Paraná’s debt. Since December 2001, the Central Bank of Argentina has imposed a number of significant monetary and currency exchange restrictions that limit the free disposition of funds deposited in Argentine banks and transfers of funds abroad. If Alto Paraná is unable to transfer funds abroad, the Company may be obligated to pay under its guarantees.

 

Beginning in February 2002, some transfers of funds outside of Argentina require the approval of the Central Bank of Argentina. On March 25, 2002, the Central Bank of Argentina placed further restrictions on the transfer of funds abroad by requiring the approval of the Central Bank of Argentina for some payments outside Argentina, including approval of both principal and interest payments on financial debt. The Central Bank of Argentina began to ease these restrictions in December 2002. Effective January 2, 2003, Central Bank of Argentina approval is no longer required for interest payments made outside Argentina. In addition, principal payments made outside Argentina are permitted without Central Bank of Argentina approval under certain conditions.

 

There can be no assurance that the Central Bank of Argentina will not reverse its position and once again restrict payments in the future, which could impose material obstacles to Alto Paraná’s ability to transfer money abroad.

 

Risks Relating to Other Markets

 

Arauco’s business, earnings and prospects may be adversely affected by developments in other countries which are beyond its control

 

Arauco’s business and results of operations are to a large extent dependent on the level of economic activity, government and foreign exchange policies, and political and economic developments in its principal export markets. In 2002, approximately 94.5% of its total pulp sales and approximately 78.2% of its total forestry, wood products and panels product sales were attributable to exports, principally to customers in Asia, the Americas and Western Europe. Arauco’s business, earnings and prospects may be materially and adversely affected by developments with respect to inflation, interest rates, currency fluctuations, protectionism, government subsidies, price and wage controls, exchange control regulations, taxation, expropriation, social instability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in these export markets. Arauco has no control over such conditions and developments. Further, such conditions and developments may adversely affect Arauco’s financial condition, results of operations or the price of or market for the Notes.

 

Developments in other emerging markets may adversely affect the market price of the Notes

 

The market price of the Notes may be adversely affected by declines in the international financial markets and world economic conditions. Chilean securities markets are, to varying degrees, influenced by economic and market conditions in other emerging market countries, especially those in Latin America. Although economic conditions are different in each country, investors’ reactions to developments in one country can affect the securities markets and the securities of issuers in other countries, including Chile. Since the fourth quarter of 1997 the international financial markets have experienced volatility. Developments in other countries have also at times adversely affected the market price of Arauco’s Notes. If the current economic situation in Argentina continues to deteriorate, or if similar developments occur in the international financial markets in the future, the market price of the Notes could be adversely affected.

 

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Risks Relating to the Notes

 

The non-payment of funds by Arauco’s subsidiaries could have a material and adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations and ability to service its debt, including the Notes

 

The Company’s cash flow and its ability to service debt is dependent in part on the cash flow and earnings of its subsidiaries and the payment of funds by those subsidiaries to the Company in the form of loans, interest, dividends or otherwise. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due under the terms of the Notes or to make any funds available for such purpose. Furthermore, claims of creditors of such subsidiaries, including trade creditors of such subsidiaries, will have priority over the Company’s creditors, including holders of the Notes, with respect to the assets and cash flow of such subsidiaries. Any right of the Company to receive assets of any of its subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization (and the consequent right of the holders of Notes to participate in those assets) will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors.

 

Changes in Chilean tax laws could lead to Arauco redeeming the Notes

 

Under current Chilean law and regulations, payments of interest to holders of debt securities that are not residents of Chile for purposes of Chilean taxation will generally be subject to Chilean withholding tax at a rate of 4.0%. Subject to certain exceptions, Arauco will pay additional amounts (as defined herein) so that the amount received by the holder of Notes after Chilean withholding tax will equal the amount that would have been received if no such taxes had been applicable. In the event of certain changes in Chilean tax laws requiring that Arauco pay additional amounts which are in excess of the additional amounts that it would owe if payments of interest on the Notes were subject only to a 4.0% withholding tax, Arauco will have the right to redeem the debt securities.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Form 20-F contains words, such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate” and similar expressions, that identify forward-looking statements, which reflect our views about future events and financial performance. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are based on current plans, estimates and projections, and therefore readers should not place undue reliance on them. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors that may be beyond our control, including but not limited to our ability to service our debt, fund our working capital requirements and comply with financial covenants in certain of our debt instruments, our ability to fund and implement our capital expenditure programs, the maintenance of relationships with customers, a change in the control of the Company, the effects on us from competition, future demand for forestry and wood products in the Chilean, Argentine and export markets, international prices for forestry and wood products, the state of the Chilean and world economies and manufacturing industries and the relative value of the Chilean peso compared to other currencies, inflation, increases in interest rates and changes in our regulatory environment. In any event, these statements speak only as of their dates, and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Item 4. Information on the Company.

 

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

 

Arauco believes that it is Chile’s largest forest plantation owner, holding 541,283 hectares of radiata pine plantations in Chile, and its largest exporter of forestry and wood products in terms of sales revenue based on information for the year ended December 31, 2002. Arauco believes that it was one of the world’s largest producers of bleached and unbleached softwood kraft market pulp in terms of production in 2002, based on information published by Resource Information Systems, Inc. (“RISI”), an independent research company for the pulp and paper industry. Based on this information, Arauco believes that in 2002 it had a share of total world production of softwood kraft market bleached pulp of 5.4% and a 16.6% share of total world production of softwood kraft market unbleached pulp. “Market pulp” is pulp sold to manufacturers of paper products as opposed to pulp produced by an

 

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integrated paper producer for use in its paper production facilities. “Kraft pulp” is pulp produced using a chemical process.

 

During the year ended December 31, 2002, Arauco harvested 9.7 million cubic meters of sawlogs and pulplogs and exported 1,786,643 cubic meters of forestry and wood products, including sawlogs, sawn timber (green and kiln dried lumber and remanufactured wood products) and panels (plywood, medium density fiber board (“MDF”) and high density fiber board (“HB”)).

 

Export sales constituted 86.4% of Arauco’s sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002. Arauco was Chile’s largest non-mining exporter in terms of sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002. Arauco’s principal overseas markets are Asia, Western Europe and the United States.

 

Arauco believes that it is one of the world’s lowest cost producers of softwood kraft market pulp. Arauco’s low costs are attributable to the high growth rate and short harvest cycle of radiata pine as compared to other commercial softwoods, the advanced genetic and silviculture techniques it applies in its forest management, competitive labor costs, economies of scale, modern mill facilities and the proximity of its operations to Pacific coast ports.

 

The market pulp industry is highly competitive and is also sensitive to changes in industry capacity, producer inventories and cyclical changes in the world’s economies, all of which may significantly affect selling prices and thereby Arauco’s profitability. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overview” and “—Prices.”

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco’s planted forests in Chile consisted of 88.7% radiata pine with the balance primarily of eucalyptus. Radiata pine has a rapid growth rate and a short harvest cycle compared to other commercial softwoods. Radiata pine is sufficiently versatile for both the production of forestry and wood products as well as the production of long fiber pulp for sale to manufacturers of paper and packaging.

 

Arauco seeks to manage its forestry resources in such a way as to ensure that the annual growth of its forest is equal to or higher than the volume harvested each year. In 2002, Arauco planted 27,529 hectares and harvested 18,875 hectares in Chile. Arauco believes that a long-term sustainable equilibrium will be reached in the latter part of this decade with annual harvests of approximately 33,000 hectares.

 

At December 31, 2002, Arauco owned and operated three pulp mills in Chile, with an aggregate annual production capacity of approximately 1,240,000 metric tons, which produced 869,276 metric tons of bleached pulp and 354,135 metric tons of unbleached pulp in 2002. One of Arauco’s pulp mills, which we refer to as the “Arauco Mill,” is located on an industrial site in the center of one group of Arauco’s radiata pine plantations. The second facility, the Constitución pulp mill (the “Constitución Mill”), is located in another of Arauco’s significant radiata pine plantations. The third facility, the Licancel pulp mill (the “Licancel Mill”), is located in Licantén, near Constitución. A fourth pulp mill is under construction in Valdivia (the “Valdivia Mill Project”), an area with significant radiata pine and eucalyptus plantations. This pulp mill will have an installed capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons annually and is expected to enter into operations during the first quarter of 2004. See “—Pulp—Pulp Mills” and “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned and operated one pulp mill in Argentina, through its subsidiary Alto Paraná. Alto Paraná manufactures and sells bleached softwood kraft market pulp in Argentina and the export market. In 2002, Alto Paraná produced 322,770 metric tons of pulp. Arauco owns 99.97% of Alto Paraná.

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned 11 sawmills in Chile and one in Argentina, with an aggregate annual production capacity of 2,510,000 cubic meters of lumber.

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned five remanufacturing facilities that reprocess sawn timber into remanufactured wood products, such as moldings, jams and pre-cut pieces that end users require for doors, furniture

 

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and door and window frames. These facilities produced 919,753 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products in 2002.

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned one plywood mill (with two production lines), one HB mill and three MDF mills.

 

History of Arauco

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. is a sociedad anónima abierta (a public corporation) organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile. Its principal executive office is located at El Golf 150, 14th Floor, Santiago, Chile, and its telephone number is 56-2-461-7200.

 

The Company as currently constituted was formed on September 14, 1979 in a merger between Industrias de Celulosa Arauco S.A. (“Industrias Arauco”) and Celulosa Constitución S.A. (“Celulosa Constitución”) in which Celulosa Constitución S.A. was the surviving entity. These two predecessor companies were created in the late 1960s and early 1970s by Corporación de Fomento de la Producción (“Corfo”), a Chilean government development corporation, in order to develop forest resources, improve soil quality in former farming areas and promote employment. As part of the Chilean government’s privatization program, Corfo sold Industrias Arauco to Compañía de Petróleos de Chile S.A. (“Copec”) in 1977 and Celulosa Constitución to Copec in 1979.

 

At the beginning of the 1980s, Arauco began to expand its operations through purchasing land and plantations in order to ensure its supply of materials and to support its ability to respond to market opportunities around the world. Later in that decade, as part of a drive to improve its efficiency both on an environmental basis and in terms of production, Arauco modernized many of its operations at the Arauco Mill through the replacement of old machinery and the introduction of new technology, at a total cost of approximately U.S.$65 million. Arauco also modernized the Constitución Mill for a total cost of approximately U.S.$68 million. At the same time, Arauco reorganized the administration of its forest holdings. Arauco founded Investigaciones Forestales Bioforest S.A. (“Bioforest”) in 1990 to conduct applied research in genetic improvement, site productivity, pest and disease control and wood quality, with the goal of increasing the productivity of Arauco’s forest resources.

 

In 1990 Arauco began the construction of a second line at the Arauco Mill. It was completed in 1991 with an annual production capacity of 350,000 metric tons. The second line at the Arauco Mill (“Arauco II”), which was built next to the existing line (“Arauco I”), had a total cost of approximately U.S.$600 million.

 

In 1997, Arauco completed a U.S.$120 million capital expenditure program relating to Arauco’s existing mills in Chile (the “Arauco 21 Project”). The Arauco 21 Project included:

 

    converting Arauco I to produce bleached eucalyptus pulp as well as pine bleached pulp and replacing existing equipment with a new bleaching system that eliminates the use of chlorine gas;

 

    expanding the annual production capacity of Arauco II to 500,000 metric tons of bleached softwood kraft pulp and expanding annual production capacity at Arauco I to 290,000 metric tons of eucalyptus kraft pulp or 200,000 metric tons of bleached radiata pine kraft pulp; and

 

    installing condensing turbogenerators at each of Arauco’s then-existing mills, thereby increasing the generation of energy by 30 megawatts in the aggregate at the Arauco Mill and by 12 megawatts at the Constitución Mill.

 

Arauco acquired Alto Paraná in Argentina in 1996. At that time, Alto Paraná owned approximately 57,000 hectares of land and a pulp mill with a production capacity of 250,000 metric tons per year of softwood bleached pulp. With this acquisition, Arauco expanded its market opportunities abroad.

 

In September 1999, Arauco acquired the Licancel Mill in Chile for approximately U.S.$126 million. The Licancel Mill is a pulp mill with a production capacity of 160,000 metric tons of bleached pulp per year.

 

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In the last quarter of 1999, Arauco also successfully completed a project known as the “APSA 300 Project”. Through the APSA 300 Project, Alto Paraná raised its production capacity to 300,000 metric tons of pulp per year and implemented modifications in its processes which reduce emissions as well as chemical, fossil fuel and water consumption. In particular, Alto Paraná invested U.S.$2.9 million in new effluent treatment. In the aggregate, the APSA 300 Project cost approximately U.S.$33 million.

 

In 2000, Arauco acquired 98% of the shares of Forestal Cholguán S.A. (“Cholguán”) and 50% of Trupán S.A. (“Trupán”) for a total purchase price of approximately U.S.$303 million, thus entering the MDF and HB markets. Arauco acquired 72.9% of the shares of Cholguán from a group of investors headed by Mr. Anacleto Angelini (the “Angelini Group”). The Angelini Group is also the beneficial owner of 70.2% of the shares of AntarChile S.A. (“AntarChile”), a Chilean holding company, which in turn is the indirect beneficial owner of approximately 60.1% of the shares of Arauco. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.” In 2000, Arauco also built a second plywood production line for a total cost of approximately U.S.$45 million.

 

In December 2001, Arauco began constructing a fourth pulp mill (the “Valdivia Mill”) with a projected annual production capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons of bleached pulp, consisting of 300,000 metric tons of softwood pulp and 400,000 metric tons of eucalyptus pulp. The total estimated cost of this project is expected to be U.S.$600 million, of which 25% was paid during 2002, 65% is expected to be paid during 2003 and the remaining 10% during 2004. The Valdivia Mill is expected to enter into operations during the first quarter of 2004.

 

During the third quarter of 2002, Arauco began operations at two new MDF mills, one in Chile and one in Argentina, with an annual production capacity of 250,000 cubic meters each. These mills were built through an aggregate investment of U.S.$135 million.

 

Corporate Structure

 

The Company is substantially wholly-owned by Copec, a public company listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange, the Valparaíso Stock Exchange and the Chilean Electronic Stock Exchange. Copec’s principal interests are in Arauco, gasoline distribution, retailing, electricity, gas distribution, and fishing. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.”

 

The Company conducts its corporate, treasury, sales and pulp mill operations directly. The Company conducts its Chilean forestry operations through its substantially wholly-owned subsidiary Forestal Arauco S.A. (“Forestal Arauco”). In turn, Forestal Arauco oversees and coordinates the activities of its four substantially wholly-owned forestry subsidiaries: Forestal Celco S.A. (“Forestal Celco”), Bosques Arauco S.A. (“Bosques Arauco”), Cholguán, and Forestal Valdivia S.A. (“Forestal Valdivia”), each of which owns Arauco’s forests in a particular geographic region of Chile.

 

Arauco’s sawmill operations and its remanufacturing operations are managed through Aserraderos Arauco.

 

Arauco’s subsidiary Paneles Arauco was formed in October 1995 to produce plywood from radiata pine and commenced operations in 1997. Paneles Arauco also operates an HB plant and two of Arauco’s three MDF mills.

 

Another of Arauco’s subsidiaries, Bioforest, engages in research and development connected with genetic selection, forestry management practices and improvement of site, soil and fiber quality. Bioforest also coordinates Arauco’s phytosanitary protection of its forests.

 

Servicios Logísticos Arauco S.A., formerly Portuaria Arauco S.A. (“Servicios Logísticos Arauco”), is a substantially wholly-owned subsidiary that manages port operations for all of Arauco’s Chilean business units. Arauco also owns a 20.1% equity interest in Puerto de Lirquén S.A. (“Puerto Lirquén”), a major Chilean port, and 50% of Puerto de Coronel S.A. (“Puerto Coronel”), a port facility at Coronel, which lies between Concepción and Arauco.

 

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Distribuidora Centromaderas S.A. (“Centromaderas”), which is 50% owned by Aserraderos Arauco and 50% owned by Paneles Arauco, was formed in September 1995 and sells the Aserraderos Arauco and Paneles Arauco products to the Chilean market.

 

Arauco Generación S.A. (“Arauco Generación”), originally created in 1988 as Inmobiliaria y Promotora Habitacional Arauco S.A. to construct employee housing, was renamed Arauco Generación in 1994. It is now a wholly-owned subsidiary which owns condensing turbogenerators designed to supply energy to Arauco’s pulp mills and sell any excess energy into Chile’s national electric grid. Arauco Generación commenced electricity generation operations in October 1996. This subsidiary no longer constructs employee housing.

 

Through Industrias Forestales S.A. (“IFSA”), Arauco acquired Alto Paraná in December 1996 and Industrial y Forestal Misiones S.A. (“Misiones”) in December 1997. Misiones and Alto Paraná were maintained as substantially wholly-owned subsidiaries of Arauco until December 1999, when Misiones was merged into Alto Paraná. Alto Paraná remains a substantially wholly-owned subsidiary of Arauco. Alto Paraná owns forests in Argentina and owns and operates a pulp mill, a sawmill and an MDF mill in Argentina. IFSA is a substantially wholly-owned subsidiary that Arauco formed at the end of 1996 for the purpose of conducting Arauco’s investments in Argentina.

 

Inversiones Celco S.L. (“Inversiones Celco”) was incorporated in Spain on December 2002 for the purpose of conducting Arauco’s investments in Argentina. Inversiones Celco holds 99.999% of IFSA.

 

Southwoods Arauco Lumber LLC was incorporated in the United States in September 2002. Its purpose is to conduct Arauco’s activities in the sawntimber and related products industry in the United States.

 

Arauco Internacional S.A. (previously Inversiones Cholguán S.A.) was incorporated in Chile in 1989. Beginning in 2002, it manages and holds Arauco’s foreign subsidiaries, with the exception of its Argentine operations.

 

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The following table sets out our ownership interests in our significant subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002.

 

     Country of
incorporation


   Stock held
directly


    Stock held
indirectly


    Total stock held

 

Agenciamiento y Servicios Profesionales S.A.

   Mexico    0.0020 %   99.9965 %   99.9985 %

Alto Paraná S.A.

   Argentina    0.0000     99.9722     99.9722  

Arauco Denmark ApS

   Denmark    0.0000     99.9310     99.9310  

Arauco do Brasil Ltda.

   Brazil    0.0002     99.9983     99.9985  

Arauco Ecuador S.A.

   Ecuador    0.1000     99.8985     99.9985  

Arauco Europe S.A.

   Switzerland    0.0100     58.7932     58.8032  

Arauco Forest Products B.V.

   The
Netherlands
   0.0000     99.9310     99.9310  

Arauco Generación S.A.

   Chile    99.0000     0.9992     99.9992  

Arauco Honduras S. de R.L. de C.V.

   Honduras    1.0000     98.9985     99.9985  

Arauco Internacional S.A. (previously Inversiones Cholguán S.A.)

   Chile    98.0377     1.9608     99.9985  

Araucomex S.A. de C.V.

   Mexico    0.0005     99.9980     99.9985  

Arauco Perú S.A. (previously Cholguán Lima S.A.).

   Peru    0.0013     99.9972     99.9985  

Arauco Wood Products, Inc.

   U.S.A.    0.3953     99.6032     99.9985  

Aserraderos Arauco S.A.

   Chile    99.0000     0.9992     99.9992  

Bosques Arauco S.A.

   Chile    1.0000     98.9256     99.9256  

Controladora de Plagas Forestales S.A.

   Chile    0.0000     51.0943     51.0943  

Distribuidora Centromaderas S.A.

   Chile    0.0000     99.9992     99.9992  

Forestal Arauco S.A.

   Chile    99.9248     0.0000     99.9248  

Forestal Arauco Costa Rica S.A.

   Costa Rica    10.0000     89.9987     99.9987  

Forestal Arauco Guatemala S.A.

   Guatemala    0.1515     99.8470     99.9985  

Forestal Celco S.A.

   Chile    1.0000     98.9256     99.9256  

Forestal Cholguán S.A.

   Chile    0.0000     97.3143     97.3143  

Forestal Conosur S.A.

   Uruguay    0.0000     99.9985     99.9985  

Forestal Misiones S.A.

   Argentina    0.0000     99.9861     99.9861  

Forestal Valdivia S.A.

   Chile    1.0000     98.9256     99.9256  

Industrias Forestales S.A.

   Argentina    0.0000     99.9999     99.9999  

Inversiones Celco S.L

   Spain    99.9310     0.0676     99.9986  

Investigaciones Forestales Bioforest S.A

   Chile    1.0000     98.9256     99.9256  

Paneles Arauco S.A.

   Chile    99.0000     0.9992     99.9992  

Servicios Logísticos Arauco S.A. (previously Portuaria Arauco S.A.)

   Chile    45.0000     54.9586     99.9586  

Southwoods-Arauco Lumber LLC

   U.S.A.    0.0000     99.6110     99.6110  

Trupán Argentina S.A.

   Argentina    0.0000     99.9999     99.9999  

 

Business Strategy

 

Arauco’s business strategy is to maximize the commercial value of its plantations by pursuing growth opportunities in its core businesses and expanding into new markets and products. Arauco is implementing its business strategy through the following initiatives:

 

    implementing a capital expenditure plan designed to increase production capacity for pulp and forestry and wood products and to improve efficiency and productivity;

 

    improving the growth rate and quality of its plantations and increasing production of higher margin clear wood through advanced forest management techniques; and

 

    expanding its product line in order to penetrate new markets by, among other things, planting eucalyptus trees to provide hardwood pulp.

 

Forestry Activity

 

Radiata pine grows at the fastest rates within a narrow band of latitude and under certain climatic conditions. One of Chile’s principal advantages in the forestry products industry lies in the short growing cycle of its radiata pine plantations. The faster rate of growth of radiata pine trees in Chile allows harvesting of pulplogs and sawlogs 16 to 18 years after planting and of high quality sawlogs 25 years after planting. For most temperate softwood forests in the Northern Hemisphere this range is between 18 to 45 years for pulplogs and 50 to 150 for high quality sawn timber. Consequently, the Chilean forestry industry is a relatively low cost producer, since a Chilean producer generally requires less time and a smaller area to produce the same volume of pine as its North American or European competitors, who face lower forest growth rates and higher transportation and investment

 

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costs as a result of the larger tracts of forests necessary to produce equivalent yields of softwood. Accordingly, since the mid-1970s, Arauco has focused its forest management toward the application of advanced genetic and silviculture techniques to increase productivity and the quality of its plantations.

 

Eucalyptus, which Arauco started planting in 1989, grows well in the forest regions of Chile. Once planted, Eucalyptus trees require no further forest management (other than fire control and reduction of weeds) until harvest. The average harvest cycle of eucalyptus plantations is approximately 12 years. Once cut, eucalyptus regrows and it is only after two additional harvest rotations of approximately 12 years each that it becomes necessary to replant.

 

Arauco has adopted environmentally sensitive policies towards its holdings of native forests. In selected areas, Arauco will thin native forests in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, but Arauco does not permit clear cutting of native forests in areas surrounding rivers and streams, areas of notable environmental interest or areas with particularly fragile soil conditions. See “—Government Regulation.”

 

All of Arauco’s forest activities have the environmental certification ISO 14001. Arauco is also undergoing certification in Chile for the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management (CERTFOR), which is a member of the Pan European Forest Certification (PEFC). Arauco expects to complete the certification process during the second half of 2003.

 

Forest Plantations

 

The majority of Arauco’s radiata pine is less than 15 years old. Arauco’s planted forests are located in central and southern Chile, most of which are located in close proximity to Arauco’s major production facilities and to port facilities.

 

The following table sets out the number of hectares and types of uses of Arauco’s land holdings and rights in Chile at December 31, 2002.

 

     At December 31, 2002

 
     Total

   Distribution

 
     (in hectares)    (percentage)  

Radiata pine plantations(1)

           

0-5 years

   146,478    15.9 %

6-10 years

   123,474    13.4  

11-15 years

   113,549    12.3  

16-20 years

   100,399    10.9  

21+ years

   57,383    6.2  

Subtotal(2)

   541,283    58.8  

Eucalyptus plantations(3)

   65,999    7.2  

Other species

   3,201    0.4  

Land for plantations

   30,784    3.3  

Land for other uses(4)

   279,559    30.4  

Subtotal

   379,543    41.2  
    
  

Total

   920,826    100.00 %
    
  


(1)   All years are calculated from the date of planting.
(2)   These figures include 14,389 hectares as to which Arauco has the right to harvest, but does not own.
(3)   Approximately 94% of Arauco’s eucalyptus plantations are less than 10 years old.
(4)   Includes roads, fire breaks, native forests and yards.

 

At December 31, 2002, Arauco’s aggregate radiata pine holdings comprised approximately 33% of the total Chilean radiata plantations, making Arauco the country’s largest radiata pine plantation owner, according to the Chilean Forestry Institute.

 

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Land Acquisition and Afforestation

 

Arauco’s total land assets in Chile have increased from under 170,000 hectares in 1980 to 921,793 hectares at December 31, 2002. That figure includes 14,389 hectares owned by third parties as to which Arauco has harvesting rights. Although Arauco has acquired afforested land, the bulk of the increase in its forest plantations has been through the acquisition of bare land which is subsequently planted with trees. In the five years ending December 31, 2002, Arauco purchased 72,372 hectares of bare land for plantations and other uses and 66,706 hectares of forested land in Chile.

 

Although Arauco does not currently expect to make significant acquisitions of additional land in Chile, it may nevertheless do so if presented with the opportunity to buy land at a desired price or location. Arauco anticipates continuing its policy of supplementing its pulplog production with purchases from domestic third parties. Arauco believes that this policy is efficient given the significant quantities of pulpwood available from third parties and Arauco’s increasing proportion of sawlogs yielded from its plantations. Arauco believes that the aggregate of its existing plantations in Chile, land currently held by it that Arauco intends to afforest, and the third-party purchases it makes in the ordinary course of its business will be sufficient to satisfy Arauco’s anticipated future demand for sawlogs and pulplogs.

 

In December 2002, Alto Paraná won a bid for 60,000 hectares of forestry land and plantations sold by the Argentine company Perez Companc. Alto Paraná agreed to pay U.S.$40 million for the land, which includes a sawmill with a capacity of 90,000 cubic meters and other related assets, and is located in Argentina, close to Alto Paraná’s operations. This transaction is still subject to the approval of Argentina’s antitrust authorities.

 

Forest Management

 

The forestry management activities of Arauco (with respect to its radiata pine plantations in Chile) seek to increase sawlogs through advanced genetic techniques, planting and site preparation procedures, thinning and pruning. Managed forests can produce trees of larger diameter, and, if pruned, a higher proportion of clear wood, which generally commands a higher price than knotted wood. Although some land is not suitable for the production of pruned logs, over 48.8% of Arauco’s radiata forests in Chile are actively managed for clear wood production.

 

In the case of eucalyptus, Arauco aims its forestry management activities at increasing the amount of fiber per hectare through advanced genetic techniques and planting and site preparation procedures. While eucalyptus is more expensive to plant than radiata pine, thereafter eucalyptus requires minimal forest management, yields more fiber per hectare and has a shorter growth cycle and greater wood density than radiata pine, resulting in a greater amount of pulp per hectare.

 

Arauco has five nurseries. Seedlings are grown both from seeds and from cuttings from genetically selected trees. In order to achieve higher quality trees and an increased growth rate, Arauco applies strict selection criteria to the trees from which seedlings are produced. Seedlings are planted manually. Depending upon the species of tree to be planted and the nutrient and physical characteristics of the soil, a certain amount of ground preparation may be undertaken prior to planting. Other principal forest activities are thinning, pruning and harvesting.

 

Thinning (which consists of the selected culling of inferior trees from the plantation) occurs in two stages:

 

    thinning to waste, where some thinned trees are chipped and used in pulp production; thinning to waste occurs after four to six years and results in an average reduction of the number of trees per hectare from 1,250 to approximately 700; and

 

    commercial thinning, where thinned trees are used in pulp production or, depending on the quality of the particular land, as sawlogs; commercial thinning occurs at 10 to 12 years and results in an average reduction of the number of trees per hectare from 700 to approximately 450.

 

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This high level of culling is economical because of the comparatively low cost of planting, the fact that a higher number of young trees provide each other with natural protection from the elements and because it allows a high degree of selection, leaving only the highest quality trees to be harvested.

 

Pruning involves removing branches, the source of knots, which are the main defect in sawn timber. Pruning results in a high-quality clearwood sawlog of 5.3 meters from each tree, and is conducted at the time of the first thinning, again two years later when trees are six to eight years old and a final time one year later, when trees are seven to nine years old. Eucalyptus plantations are neither thinned nor pruned.

 

Harvesting timber involves felling trees, removing branches from the logs, cutting the logs into appropriate sections and loading the logs onto trucks for transport to sawmills, pulp mills or ports for direct export. The lower section of the radiata pine tree, comprising the first seven to 12 meters, is used in sawmills and plywood mills or exported as sawlogs. The mid-section of the tree, comprising, on average, the next eight to 13 meters, is destined either for the sawmills or pulp mills, depending on its diameter and quality. The top section of the tree is used for pulp and MDF production.

 

Arauco keeps apprised of product demand and its current inventory levels, and matches harvests from sections of its plantations that will provide the optimal yield given its product requirements. This process involves the use of sophisticated operations research models and continual liaison between different operating areas of Arauco to ensure that correct amounts of timber of the required characteristics are supplied. Arauco replants as soon as practicable after harvesting, with an average period between harvesting and replanting of one year.

 

The following table illustrates on a hectare basis the extent of Arauco’s thinning, pruning and harvesting activities in Chile.

 

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

               (in hectares)          

Thinning

   34,935    30,787    30,737    35,039    33,824

Pruning

   34,814    42,061    50,707    46,245    40,377

Harvesting

   13,580    12,875    14,821    17,779    18,875

 

Arauco manages its forest activities in Chile, but hires independent contractors to perform the bulk of its operations, including planting, maintenance, thinning, pruning, harvesting, transportation and access road construction. Arauco commenced this practice in 1980 and currently has arrangements with more than 300 independent contractors, which in turn employ over 10,000 workers. Many of these contractors have had long-standing relations with Arauco. A substantial number of these contracts are awarded on the basis of competitive bids. Arauco believes that its arrangements with independent contractors provide greater flexibility and efficiency than performing such activities on its own.

 

The fact that Arauco’s forest holdings are geographically split by areas of farmland and native forests provides natural protection against the spread of certain diseases among its plantations. In addition, among its other activities, Bioforest, Arauco’s research and development subsidiary, has developed techniques to protect Arauco’s forests from pests and diseases. The most prevalent pest is the European pine shoot moth, which may damage the tips of the radiata pine resulting in deformations to the tree. Arauco controls this moth with biological methods. Specifically, Arauco introduced a parasitic wasp, the Orgilus Obscurator, which attacks only the European pine shoot moth. Other methods used to control pests include the mechanical removal of affected tips and the use of low toxicity chemical products. Other potential diseases and pests include a fungus called Dothistroma, which reduces a tree’s growth rate, and the Sirex insect, which attacks decaying trees and results in a thinned forest.

 

Arauco operates an extensive fire control organization, which interacts with those of other forestry companies, in order to ensure minimum fire damage. The operation consists primarily of a system of spotter towers, manned 24 hours a day during the summer months, from which spotters report the direction of any fire observed to a central command post, where the fire’s exact location is determined and an appropriate ground and/or aerial response is formulated. This system has limited fire damage to Arauco’s forests to an average of 0.38% of the plantations per year over the last five years. See “—Description of Property.”

 

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Forest Production

 

Arauco harvested 8.8 million cubic meters of logs in Chile during the year ended December 31, 2002, consisting of 5.4 million cubic meters of sawlogs, 2.3 million cubic meters of radiata pine pulplogs and 1.1 million cubic meters of eucalyptus pulplogs and other logs. Arauco did not export any pulp logs during 2002, as substantially all of the pulplogs from its forests were used in Arauco’s pulp mills. During 2002, 4,748,755 cubic meters of sawlogs were used by Arauco’s sawmills and panel mills and 48,732 cubic meters of sawlogs were exported. Arauco also sold 532,876 cubic meters of sawlogs to unaffiliated domestic sawmills during the same period.

 

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Domestic and Export Sales

 

The following table sets out Arauco’s sales revenue derived from exports and domestic sales for the years indicated.

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

     (in millions of U.S.$)

Export Sales

                    

Bleached pulp

   $ 580    $ 518    $ 466

Unbleached pulp

     151      150      129

Sawlogs

     3      0      3

Flitches

     9      6      6

Sawn timber

     133      117      155

Remanufactured wood products

     78      99      128

Plywood and fiber panels

     59      93      133

Posts

     8      6      7

Other

     5      —        —  
    

  

  

Total export sales revenue

     1,026      989      1,027

Domestic Sales

                    

Bleached pulp

     58      36      33

Unbleached pulp

     3      1      2

Sawlogs

     38      16      14

Pulplogs

     11      11      7

Sawn timber

     61      49      44

Remanufactured wood products

     3      13      9

Chips

     2      1      1

Electric power

     4      3      5

Plywood and fiber panels

     37      48      45

Other

     17      6      1
    

  

  

Total domestic sales revenue

     234      185      161
    

  

  

Total sales revenue

   $ 1,260    $ 1,174    $ 1,188
    

  

  

 

The following table sets out a geographic market breakdown of Arauco’s export sales revenue for the years indicated.

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

     (in millions of U.S.$)

North America

   $ 108    $ 188    $ 131

Central and South America

     160      155      158

Asia

     381      442      342

Europe

     342      192      369

Others

     36      11      26
    

  

  

Total

   $ 1,027    $ 989    $ 1,026
    

  

  

 

Pulp

 

Arauco believes that it was Chile’s largest producer of bleached and unbleached softwood market pulp in terms of production in 2002. For the year ended December 31, 2002, pulp sales were U.S.$628.8 million, representing 52.9% of Arauco’s total sales revenue for the period.

 

Pulp obtained from wood fibers is used in the manufacture of printing and writing paper, hygienic and sanitary paper, board and packaging. Whether a specific kind of pulp is suitable for a particular end use depends not only on the type of wood, but also on the process used to transform the wood into pulp. Pulp made from softwoods, such as radiata pine, has long fibers and is used to provide durability and strength to paper products. Bleached pulp

 

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is used primarily for printing and writing papers and for tissue. Unbleached pulp is used primarily for linerboard (a packaging material). Pulp made from hardwoods, such as eucalyptus, has short fibers and is used in combination with long fiber in manufacturing paper products.

 

Arauco uses a chemical process, known as the “kraft” process, in its three pulp mills in Chile and the pulp mill in Argentina. The raw wood is in the form of pulplogs and chips, which are combined in the production process to produce pulp. The pulplogs are first debarked and chipped. The chips are then screened, mixed and cooked with chemicals in order to separate the bulk of the lignin from the wood fibers. After the material is screened and washed, it is then passed to high-density tanks. For bleached pulp, the next step is a five-stage bleaching process using chemicals, primarily chlorine dioxide. At the Arauco II and Licancel Mills, the bleaching process is preceded by an oxygen delignification stage. The fibers are then subjected to a final stage where the sheets are formed and subsequently dried and baled for transport to customers. The lignin and bark produced during this process is used to fuel the boilers that produce steam, providing heat and generating electricity for the mill. Arauco’s bleached pulp is bleached to a 90+ brightness level as measured by the International Standards Organization (“ISO”) test procedure, which is one of the industry’s measurement methods.

 

Pulp Mills

 

Arauco owns and operates three pulp mills in Chile, which had an aggregate annual production capacity at December 31, 2002 of approximately 1,240,000 metric tons, and in December 2001 it began construction of a fourth mill, the Valdivia Mill. No seasonal factors affect plant utilization. The pulp mills are kept running at full capacity throughout the year with eight to 10 days of maintenance scheduled every 12 months.

 

The following table sets out bleached and unbleached kraft pulp production in Chile by plant for each of the five years from 1998 through 2002.

 

     Year ended December 31

     1998

   1999

    2000

   2001

   2002

     (in thousands of metric tons)

Arauco Mill (bleached)

                         

Arauco I

   219    237     255    284    258

Arauco II

   459    468     484    485    498

Constitución Mill (unbleached)

   309    330     334    350    354

Licancel Mill (bleached)

   —      14 (1)   118    110    113
    
  

 
  
  

Total

   987    1,049     1,191    1,229    1,223
    
  

 
  
  

(1)   For the period from October 1, 1999, when Arauco began its administration of Licancel Mill, to December 31, 1999.

 

Arauco I. Arauco I, which was completed in 1972, is located in the heart of one group of Arauco’s radiata pine plantations in the Eighth Region in Chile, approximately 600 kilometers south of Santiago. Arauco I underwent a modernization between 1986 and 1989 which increased its annual capacity to 190,000 metric tons and substantially improved its automation and environmental controls, including the ability to produce elementary chlorine-free (“ECF”) pulp. Annual capacity increased to 290,000 metric tons of eucalyptus kraft pulp (“EKP”) or 200,000 metric tons of bleached kraft pulp (“BKP”) as a result of the Arauco 21 Project. In June 1998, Arauco began producing eucalyptus bleached pulp at Arauco I. It continues to produce pine bleached pulp as well.

 

Arauco II. Located at the same site as Arauco I, Arauco II was completed in 1991 with an annual production capacity of 350,000 metric tons. Arauco II’s pulping process is fundamentally the same as that of Arauco I, but includes technological improvements in its production process and environmental design. Arauco II is equipped to produce ECF pulp, which does not use chlorine gas. ECF pulp is also produced by a significant portion of Arauco’s competitors in each of the world’s major pulp producing regions. Annual capacity increased to 500,000 metric tons as a result of the Arauco 21 Project.

 

Constitución Mill. The Constitución Mill is located in the heart of another group of Arauco’s radiata pine forests in the Seventh Region in Chile, approximately 360 kilometers southwest of Santiago. In 1990 the plant underwent a modernization and expansion that increased its annual production capacity to 265,000 metric tons per

 

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year, making it the largest unbleached softwood market pulp mill in the world, and substantially improved its automation and environmental controls. In the following years, improved operational procedures and minor capital improvements expanded annual production capacity to approximately 350,000 metric tons.

 

Licancel Mill. Arauco acquired the Licancel Mill in September 1999 for U.S.$133 million. Licancel is a pulp mill located in Licantén, near Constitución, which is 250 kilometers south of Santiago. The mill has a production capacity of 160,000 tons of EKP or 130,000 tons of pine BKP. Like Arauco I and Arauco II, the Licancel Mill is equipped to produce ECF pulp. Arauco also acquired 29,000 hectares of radiata pine plantations in connection with its purchase of the Licancel Mill.

 

Valdivia Mill (under construction). See “—History of Arauco” and “—Capital Expenditures.”

 

A significant proportion of Arauco’s planned capital expenditures is focused on its pulp operations. These projects include the construction of the Valdivia Mill in an area with significant radiata pine and eucalyptus plantations. The Valdivia Mill has a projected annual production capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons of bleached pulp, consisting of 300,000 metric tons of softwood pulp and 400,000 tons of eucalyptus pulp. Construction of the mill began in December 2001. See “—Capital Expenditures.” To date, costs have been below the amount budgeted. The mill is expected to start producing during the first quarter of 2004.

 

Itata Project. Arauco has proposed the construction of another industrial complex in southern Chile. As proposed, the project, known as the “Itata Project,” would include a pulp mill, a plywood mill, a sawmill and other wood processing facilities. The Company’s Board of Directors has approved the construction of the first phase of the Itata Project, consisting of a sawmill, a plywood mill and an energy complex for the supply of steam and energy. Construction of this first phase began in May 2003 with an estimated investment cost of approximately U.S.$120 million. The necessary environmental approvals for the proposed project have been obtained. However, the pulp mill has not received final approval from the Company’s Board of Directors, and there can be no assurance that the second phase of the project will be undertaken.

 

Production Costs

 

Based on information published by RISI, Arauco’s cash costs for softwood pulp production are significantly lower than the average costs of market pulp producers in Canada, the United States and Scandinavia, particularly with respect to timber and labor costs. While Arauco’s modern facilities result in depreciation exceeding that of such Northern Hemisphere producers, Arauco’s costs are still significantly lower than those of the average of its Northern Hemisphere competitors on a total delivered cost basis. The following table compares Arauco’s costs for the production of bleached softwood kraft market pulp with the average costs of market pulp producers in Chile and selected regions in the Northern Hemisphere for the year ended December 31, 2001.

 

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     Bleached Softwood Kraft Pulp Producers’ Cost

     Arauco(3)

   British
Columbia
Coast


   British
Columbia
Interior


   United
States
South


   Sweden

   Finland

     (in U.S.$ per metric ton for the year ended December 31, 2001)

Wood

   108    150    131    128    175    193

Total chemicals

   36    46    49    60    38    33

Labor

   12    55    41    39    28    30

Others(1)

   33    81    85    73    26    16
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total cash cost

   189    332    306    300    267    272
    
  
  
  
  
  

Depreciation

   68    48    35    63    36    50
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total mill cost

   257    380    341    363    303    322
    
  
  
  
  
  

Transportation(2)

   37    43    70    58    20    23
    
  
  
  
  
  

Total delivered cost

   294    423    411    421    323    345
    
  
  
  
  
  

(1)   Includes energy, materials and other production costs.
(2)   Delivered Northern Europe.
(3)   Includes Chilean operations only.

Source: RISI World PULP Annual Historical Data, July 2002, except Arauco information, which is furnished by Arauco.

 

Sales

 

The world market for bleached softwood kraft market pulp during the year ended December 31, 2002 was approximately 19.2 million metric tons. Based on information published by RISI, Arauco believes that its production represented 5.4% of this market in 2002. During the year ended December 31, 2002, Arauco sold approximately 93.4% of its bleached pulp abroad, principally to customers in Asia and Western Europe. In the early 1990’s, sales were made primarily to Western Europe, but with the expanded capacity provided by Arauco II as it came on line starting in late 1991, Arauco has been able to diversify its customer base, especially in Asia. The domestic market in Chile is dominated by a single integrated pulp and paper manufacturer so that the Chilean market for bleached market pulp is relatively small.

 

The world production of unbleached softwood pulp is dominated by integrated manufacturers, leaving non-integrated companies, such as Arauco, with only a small percentage of total production. With a total world production of unbleached softwood kraft market pulp of 2.1 million metric tons for 2002, according to RISI, Arauco’s Constitución Mill was the world’s largest single producer, with 16.6% of the total market in 2002. During the year ended December 31, 2002, approximately 98.6% of Arauco’s total unbleached market pulp sales consisted of export sales. While for the last five calendar years Asia has been Arauco’s principal export market for unbleached market pulp, Arauco continually seeks niche markets for its product in Western Europe and the United States. Historically, Arauco’s sales in the domestic market have been less than 5% of its total unbleached pulp sales revenue.

 

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The following table sets out by region the sales volumes of bleached and unbleached pulp for each of the five years from 1998 through 2002, excluding sales from Alto Paraná.

 

     Year ended December 31,

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

     (in metric tons)

Bleached Pulp

                        

North and South America

   35,093    55,783    60,559    60,933    82,873

Europe

   269,996    276,775    277,307    290,980    322,038

Asia

   391,139    488,352    299,890    635,295    473,740

Other

   —      —      11,935    15,036    11,156
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   696,228    820,910    649,691    1,002,244    889,807
    
  
  
  
  

Unbleached Pulp

                        

North and South America

   26,619    26,785    34,156    29,521    24,398

Europe

   21,303    17,500    13,877    12,598    13,558

Asia

   230,831    312,767    223,848    377,897    311,406

Other

   8,147    1,998    9,409    3,519    —  
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   286,900    359,050    281,290    423,535    349,362
    
  
  
  
  

 

While there are many grades and varieties, pulp is a commodity that is marketed primarily on the basis of price and service. In marketing its pulp, Arauco seeks to establish long-term relationships with non-integrated end users of pulp by providing a competitively-priced, high-quality, consistent product and excellent service. The consistency of Arauco’s Chilean pulp derives from its state-of-the-art mills and its use of a single species of tree, in contrast to pulp producers in some of the world’s major softwood pulp producing regions that use a mix of different species depending on availability and seasonality. Arauco’s bleached pulp is marketed under the brand names “Arauco” and its unbleached pulp under the brand name “Celco.”

 

Prices for bleached softwood kraft market pulp produced from radiata pine generally fluctuate depending on prevailing world prices, which historically have been cyclical. The fluctuations generally depend upon worldwide demand, world production capacity, the business strategies adopted by major forestry, pulp and paper producers and the availability of substitutes. See “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects—Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations—Overview” and “—Prices.”

 

Prices in the world market for unbleached kraft market pulp are determined by a small number of producers and customers. While Arauco runs its pulp mills at capacity, Arauco varies its inventory of unbleached pulp depending on the prevailing market price.

 

The following table sets forth Arauco’s Chilean bleached and unbleached pine pulp prices (CIF) per metric ton at the indicated dates, during the years set out below.

 

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

     (U.S.$ per metric ton)

Bleached Pulp

                        

March 31

   422    419    622    456    360

June 30

   504    479    666    408    439

September 30

   425    523    684    365    448

December 31

   397    596    644    378    414

Unbleached Pulp

                        

March 31

   360    362    537    361    348

June 30

   436    403    580    348    405

September 30

   382    430    542    342    379

December 31

   327    487    426    370    361

 

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In accordance with customary pulp market practice, Arauco does not have long-term sales contracts with its customers, but rather maintains long-standing relationships with its customers pursuant to which agreement is reached from time to time on specific volumes and prices. The Company has a diversified customer base located throughout the world, totaling more than 480 clients. The Company employs more than 20 sales agents to represent it in more than 50 countries, but its worldwide sales network is managed from its Santiago headquarters.

 

Forestry Products

 

Arauco’s forestry products are sawlogs and pulpwood. As a result of Arauco’s forest management policies and the increasing maturity of Arauco’s plantations in Chile, Arauco’s plantations are yielding increasing volumes of forestry products, particularly clear wood. As the volume of clear wood has grown, Arauco has broadened its range of forestry products. For the year ended December 31, 2002, sales of forestry products were U.S.$31 million, representing 2.6% of Arauco’s total sales revenue for the period.

 

Sawmills

 

Arauco’s sawmill products are sawn timber (green and kiln-dried lumber) and remanufactured wood products. For the year ended December 31, 2002, sales of sawmill products were U.S.$343.9 million, representing 29.0% of Arauco’s total sales revenues for the period.

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned 11 sawmills in Chile and one in Argentina, with an aggregate annual processing capacity at December 31, 2002 of approximately 4,300,000 cubic meters of sawlogs and an aggregate annual production capacity at December 31, 2002 of approximately 2,510,000 cubic meters of lumber. Arauco’s 11 sawmills in Chile are operated by contractors, which are not related to Arauco or to each other. Arauco operates its sawmills in coordination with its forestry and sales operations, since its sawn timber is generally produced in accordance with customer specifications. All of the sawmills are located near Arauco’s radiata pine plantations. As of December 31, 2002, Arauco also owned five remanufacturing facilities that reprocess the sawn timber into remanufactured wood products, with an aggregate annual production capacity of approximately 325,000 cubic meters.

 

In the last quarter of 1999 and the first quarter of 2000, Arauco completed construction of two new high production capacity sawmills, the first, the Horcones II Sawmill, in the province of Arauco, Chile and the second, the Misiones Sawmill, in the province of Misiones, Argentina. Arauco’s total investment in these projects was approximately U.S.$52 million. The Horcones II Sawmill commenced partial operations in September 1999 and was fully operational by December 1999, with an annual production capacity of 220,000 cubic meters of sawn timber. The Misiones Sawmill commenced operations in April 2000 and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of sawn timber. During 2002, this mill produced 210,000 cubic meters of sawn timber. The Cholguán sawmill, located 150 kilometers east of Arauco with a production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of lumber per year, was acquired by Arauco in March 2000 through its acquisition of Cholguán.

 

Aserraderos Arauco was established in June 1993 to centralize management and control production at Arauco’s sawmill and remanufacturing operations. Prior to that time, Arauco leased its mills to independent third-party operators that could sell into the domestic market any products that Arauco did not purchase for export. All of Arauco’s sawmill and remanufacturing facilities are currently run by independent contractors that are paid sawing services fees calculated on a fixed and variable basis depending on productivity, with price renegotiations in the event of material changes in costs or productivity. Each independent contractor operates exclusively for Arauco and only with respect to one sawmill facility and, at the mills that have adjacent remanufacturing facilities, one remanufacturing facility. The 11 independent contractors that operate Arauco’s Chilean sawmills employed 3,230 employees at December 31, 2002 and the five independent contractors that operate Arauco’s Chilean remanufacturing facilities employed 1,740 employees at December 31, 2002. Arauco believes that its arrangements with independent contractors provide it with greater flexibility and efficiency than performing such activities on its own.

 

A log merchandising facility located at the same site as the Horcones I Mill described below was completed in early 1997. This facility cuts and classifies wood destined for the plywood facility, the sawmills, the export market or the pulp mills.

 

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The following is a brief description of Arauco’s sawmills and remanufacturing facilities on the basis of their production capacity. Processing capacity measures a facility’s input, while production capacity measures its output. Typically, a facility’s production capacity is 45% to 50% smaller than its processing capacity.

 

Araucana. This sawmill processes logs to produce sawn timber, including high-grade sawn timber for remanufacturing and flitches. It has an annual production capacity of 125,000 cubic meters of lumber.

 

Cholguán. This sawmill was acquired in March 2000 and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 meters of lumber, as well as drying kiln facilities and two remanufacturing facilities with an annual production capacity of 45,000 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products. This sawmill also has a special facility for making laminating beams, with an annual production capacity of 6,000 cubic meters and drying facilities with an annual production capacity of 220,000 cubic meters.

 

Colorado. This sawmill, which was expanded in 1995 and has an annual production capacity of 320,000 cubic meters of lumber, produces “green” sawn timber (or sawn timber that is not kiln dried) for the Japanese and Middle Eastern markets, as well as the domestic market. It also has drying facilities with an annual production capacity of 170,000 cubic meters.

 

El Cruce. This sawmill was acquired in March of 1999 and has an annual production capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of lumber, as well as remanufacturing facilities.

 

Escuadrón. This sawmill was acquired by Arauco in 1976 and modernized in 1994. Its annual production capacity is 90,000 cubic meters of lumber, and it produces all types of sawn timber. It also has drying kilns with an annual production capacity of 80,000 cubic meters.

 

Horcones I. This sawmill started production in the third quarter of 1996. It has an annual production capacity of 320,000 cubic meters of lumber. It also has drying kilns with an annual production capacity of 400,000 cubic meters and a remanufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 110,000 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products.

 

Horcones II. This sawmill has an annual production capacity of 220,000 cubic meters of lumber, as well as drying kiln facilities. It commenced operations of its drying kiln facilities in September 1999 and was fully operational by December 1999, with an annual production capacity of 200,000 cubic meters.

 

Coelemu. This sawmill was acquired by Arauco in 1991 and has an annual production capacity of 80,000 cubic meters of lumber. Much of the mill’s production is sold into the Japanese market for thin and narrow sawn timber.

 

Mariquina. This sawmill started production in the fourth quarter of 1996 and has an annual production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of lumber. It also has drying facilities with an annual production capacity of 180,000 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products and a remanufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 36,500 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products.

 

Misiones (Argentina). Construction of this sawmill was completed in the first quarter of 2000. It has an estimated annual production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of lumber. It is also equipped with drying kilns with an annual production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters and a remanufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 36,000 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products.

 

Mutrún. This sawmill, which was modernized in 1992, has an annual production capacity of 125,000 cubic meters of lumber. It is also equipped with drying kilns with an annual production capacity of 80,000 cubic meters.

 

Viñales. This sawmill started production in the second quarter of 1994. It has an annual production capacity of 250,000 cubic meters of lumber. It is also equipped with drying kilns with an annual production

 

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capacity of 200,000 cubic meters and a remanufacturing facility with an annual production capacity of 120,000 cubic meters of remanufactured wood products.

 

Panels

 

Arauco’s panel products are plywood and fiber panels. In October 1997, Arauco’s subsidiary, Paneles Arauco, completed construction of a plywood facility in the Arauco province at an estimated total cost of U.S.$44 million. The facility reached its projected annual processing capacity of 230,000 cubic meters of logs during the second half of 1998. During 2000, Arauco completed the construction of a second production line with an annual production capacity of 200,000 cubic meters of plywood, which expanded the annual total production capacity of the facility to 340,000 cubic meters of plywood. This second line had a total cost of U.S.$30 million. During 2002, the facility produced a total of 310,122 cubic meters of plywood.

 

For the year ended December 31, 2002, sales of panels were U.S.$178.4 million, representing 15.0% of Arauco’s total sales revenues for the period.

 

Cholguán’s subsidiary Maderas Prensadas Cholguán S.A. (“Maderas Prensadas”), which runs the Cholguán HB Mill (the “Cholguán HB Mill”), became a subsidiary of Arauco through Arauco’s acquisition of Cholguán. Through a tender offer for the shares of Maderas Prensadas not previously held by Cholguán, Cholguán became the owner of 96.6% of Maderas Prensadas at the close of the offer on May 31, 2000. The Cholguán HB Mill has an annual production capacity of 60,000 tons per year.

 

At the time of the Cholguán acquisition, Maderas Prensadas held 50% of the shares of Trupán, which owned the Trupán MDF mill, which had an annual production capacity of 145,000 cubic meters per year. In March 2000 Maderas Prensadas bought the remaining 50% of the shares of Trupán from Carter Holt Harvey International Limited (Chile) through the exercise of an option. As a result, Trupán became a substantially wholly-owned subsidiary of Arauco. In October 2000, Trupán was merged with Paneles Arauco S.A., with Trupán as the surviving entity. In October 2000, Trupán changed its name to “Paneles Arauco S.A.”

 

During the third quarter of 2002, Arauco began operations at two new MDF mills, one in Chile (“Trupan II”) and one in Argentina, with a capacity of 250,000 cubic meters each. These mills were built at a combined investment of U.S.$135 million.

 

With the inauguration of these two new mills, Arauco’s total annual production capacity now exceeds a million cubic meters, placing it among the main companies in Latin America in the wood panel business:

 

Sales

 

The following table sets out Arauco’s forestry and wood products sales to unaffiliated third parties by category for each of the five years from 1998 through 2002.

 

     Year ended December 31,

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

     (in thousands of cubic meters)

Sawlogs

   1,250    1,252    989    515    585

Pulplogs

   489    526    516    451    419

Sawn timber

   835    915    1,078    1,190    1,510

Remanufactured wood products

   92    157    185    273    248

Plywood and fiber panels

   68    115    314    466    643

 

Exports accounted for 78.2% of Arauco’s total sales revenues of panels, forestry and wood products for the year ended December 31, 2002. Arauco sells sawlogs primarily to Korea and the Middle East, sawn timber to Japan, the Middle East and the United States, and remanufactured wood products to the United States and Japan.

 

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Alto Paraná

 

In December 1996, Arauco acquired a 96.04% interest in Alto Paraná, a company headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina, that manufactures and sells bleached softwood kraft market pulp in Argentina and the export market. In 2002, Alto Paraná produced 322,770 metric tons of pulp at its mill and realized revenues from such sales of approximately U.S.$132.8 million. In December 1997, Arauco acquired a 97.58% interest in Misiones, an Argentine forestry company. Each such acquisition has been accounted for under the purchase accounting method in accordance with U.S. GAAP. As a result of Arauco’s subsequent acquisitions of stock in the two companies, immediately prior to the merger of Misiones into Alto Paraná in December 1999, Arauco held a 99.98% interest in Alto Paraná and a 99.98% interest in Misiones. Alto Paraná remains a 99.98% subsidiary of the Company.

 

Pulp Mill and Properties

 

Alto Paraná’s principal assets are its pulp production facility, located on the Paraná River in the Province of Misiones, Argentina, its cultivated forest lands, which serve as a source of raw materials for the production of softwood pulp, the Misiones Sawmill and an MDF mill, which started operations during the third quarter of 2002.

 

Alto Paraná’s softwood pulp mill is located approximately 1,300 kilometers northwest of Buenos Aires in Puerto Esperanza, a province of Misiones, Argentina, a region whose soil and climate are favorable for the rapid growth of pine trees. The Alto Paraná mill, which commenced operations in November 1982, is the only bleached softwood kraft market pulp facility in Argentina. The mill has a production capacity of 340,000 tons of pulp per year, which currently represents almost all of total bleached softwood pulp production capacity in Argentina. The mill produced:

 

    306,649 metric tons in 2000;

 

    299,628 metric tons in 2001; and

 

    322,770 metric tons in 2002.

 

Through Alto Paraná, Arauco owned approximately 200,989 hectares of forest and other land in Argentina and Uruguay as of December 31, 2002. Of these, 173,307 were located in the Province of Misiones, Argentina and the balance in Uruguay. Of these 200,989 hectares, approximately 90,800 hectares are planted with taeda pine as well as elliotti pine (a species of softwood which has a growth rate similar to that of radiata pine). The balance includes plantings of other species of trees, land to be planted, protected areas and natural forests. The majority of Arauco’s Argentine pine is under 15 years old.

 

In December 2002, Alto Paraná won a bid for 60,000 hectares of forestry land and plantations sold by the Argentine company Perez Companc. Alto Paraná agreed to pay U.S.$40 million for the land, which is located in Argentina, close to Alto Paraná’s operations. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the Argentine antitrust authorities. Alto Paraná expects to acquire additional land depending on price and location; however, there can be no assurance that Alto Paraná will be able to acquire land at its desired price or location.

 

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The following table sets out the number of hectares and types of uses of Arauco’s land holdings in Argentina at December 31, 2002.

 

Arauco’s Argentine Forest Reserves

 

     At December 31, 2002

 
     Total

   Distribution

 
     (in hectares)    (percentage)  

Taeda & Elliotti Pine Plantations(1)

           

0-5 years

   46,900    23.3 %

6-10 years

   10,882    5.4  

11-15 years

   10,905    5.4  

16-20 years

   9,313    4.6  

21+ years

   12,800    6.4  
    
  

Subtotal

   90,800    45.2  

Araucaria

   3,277    1.6  

Eucalyptus

   5,358    2.7  

Land for plantations

   23,219    11.6  

Land for other uses(2)

   78,335    39.0  
    
  

Subtotal

   110,189    54.8  
    
  

Total

   200,989    100.0 %
    
  


(1)   All years are calculated from the date of planting.
(2)   Includes roads, fire, breaks, native forests and yards.

 

Alto Paraná owns a sawmill, Aserradero Misiones, with an annual production capacity of 300,000 cubic meters of lumber, and an MDF mill with an annual production capacity of 250,000 cubic meters. Both are located in Puerto Piray, 50 kilometers south of Puerto Esperanza in the Province of Misiones, Argentina.

 

Costs

 

Arauco believes that Alto Paraná is a low cost producer of softwood kraft pulp, due mainly to its low chemical and wood costs. The favorable climate and soil conditions in the province of Misiones, Argentina, enable Alto Paraná to harvest its softwood pine trees in only 16 years, while harvest rotations for pine trees in the Northern Hemisphere typically range from 18 to 45 years.

 

Alto Paraná’s business strategy is to be a low cost producer of high quality bleached softwood kraft market pulp and forestry and wood products with a diversified customer base. It seeks to operate its production facilities profitably and at a high level of capacity utilization, even during periods of low prices.

 

In early 2002, the Argentine government changed from a fixed exchange rate, where the Argentine peso was tied to the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis, to a floating exchange rate. The Argentine peso devalued by approximately 70% as a result. During the first half of 2003, this tendency has reversed and the Argentine peso has begun to appreciate against the dollar.

 

Since most of Alto Paraná’s fixed costs are Argentine peso-denominated, the devaluation led to reduced costs, as measured in U.S. dollars. At the same time, the devaluation led to a loss on Argentine peso-denominated assets, resulting in a net loss for 2002.

 

Sales

 

Alto Paraná’s operations are equidistant from Buenos Aires, Argentina and Sao Paulo, Brazil. As a result, the Company believes that Alto Paraná is well positioned to benefit from future growth in the Mercosur market. Excluding Latin America, Alto Paraná’s principal markets are in Europe and Asia. The following table sets out by region the pulp sales volumes of Alto Paraná for 1998 through 2002.

 

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     Year ended December 31,

     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

               (in metric tons)          

Latin America

   174,217    168,857    193,826    165,456    195,598

Europe

   92,873    91,592    78,032    101,205    98,227

Asia

   4,638    1,992    2,194    21,951    25,344

Other

   6,946    7,407    12,508    6,167    6,617
    
  
  
  
  

Total

   278,674    269,848    286,560    294,779    325,786
    
  
  
  
  

 

Alto Paraná does not have long-term sales contracts with its customers, but rather maintains long-standing relationships with its customers pursuant to which agreement is reached from time to time on specific volumes and prices. In response to the current Argentine economic crisis, Alto Paraná is increasing the proportion of its sales which are directed to other markets, while continuing to provide products to its long-standing Argentine clients.

 

Competition

 

Arauco experiences substantial worldwide competition in each of its geographical markets and in each of its product lines. Several of its competitors are larger than Arauco and may have greater financial and other resources.

 

Arauco faces competition in its pulp sales from one other major Chilean producer and from long-fiber pulp producers in other regions, particularly Canada, the United States, New Zealand and the Scandinavian countries for bleached market pulp, and South Africa, the United States, Portugal and New Zealand for unbleached market pulp. Arauco has been able to compete successfully because of its reputation for dependable service and its low production costs, which provide it with a competitive price advantage. Arauco has begun to produce short fiber pulp, which is made from eucalyptus, in limited volumes, in an effort to diversify its product line and to reach new markets. Arauco faces competition largely from Brazilian and Indonesian producers for its new short fiber pulp product.

 

Arauco’s principal competitors in the forestry and wood products markets are the major European, North American, New Zealand and Chilean forestry companies. Arauco believes that its relatively low cost of wood, its operating efficiencies, such as in transportation, its ability to customize orders, its domestic and off-shore sales and marketing organizations and the versatility of radiata pine allow it to compete effectively in the world market for forestry and wood products.

 

Transportation, Storage and Distribution

 

In order to remain competitive with pulp suppliers elsewhere in the world, Arauco ships pulp to various distribution centers around the world from which final delivery to the customer is made. Historically, Arauco and other Chilean pulp and forestry products producers have coordinated their transportation requirements in order to achieve larger lots to fill specially designed pulp and log ships and thus obtain competitive freight rates.

 

The Company’s subsidiary Servicios Logísticos Arauco manages all of Arauco’s Chilean port activities. Work is performed by independent contractors, who receive the pulp and forestry products at the port and prepare shipments. The principal Chilean ports used by Arauco are:

 

    San Vicente and Talcahuano, which are both state-owned ports in the Concepción area and through which Arauco shipped approximately 25.8% of its aggregate export volume during 2002;

 

    Lirquén, a private port in Concepción in which Arauco has an equity interest of 20.1% and through which Arauco shipped approximately 21.4% of its aggregate export volume during 2002; and

 

    Coronel, a private port located between Concepción and Arauco which opened in July 1996 and which Arauco constructed as part of a consortium with five other companies; Arauco shipped approximately 49.5% of its aggregate export volume through this port in 2002.

 

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These ports are approximately 60 kilometers from the Arauco Mill and 300 kilometers from Constitución Mill. Arauco has a pulp storage warehouse at Concepción with a capacity of 60,000 metric tons and a pulp storage warehouse at the port of San Vicente which has a capacity of 21,000 metric tons.

 

Arauco ships pulp to various ports in Europe, North and South America and Asia and, as is customary in the pulp industry, it stores some stock in those ports. Standard storage terms provide that Arauco is entitled to a certain period of storage free of charge. Arauco seeks to ensure that such initial period is not exceeded for each shipment. Arauco uses 18 foreign ports which have warehouse facilities available. At December 31, 2002, Arauco had approximately 122,036 metric tons in storage in warehouses at foreign ports.

 

Arauco believes that its shipping costs are broadly comparable with those of its international competitors, notwithstanding Chile’s greater distance from Europe, because of the proximity of its plantations and mills to the Pacific coast and the economies of scale achieved through its coordinated shipments with other Chilean producers.

 

Alto Paraná’s finished products generally are marketed on a CIF price basis and transported by common carriers. Timely and economical delivery of finished products to its customers are important factors in Alto Paraná’s ability to compete effectively. Most orders are shipped from the Puerto Esperanza mill almost immediately after they are produced, either by truck or railway.

 

Description of Property

 

Arauco’s principal properties consist of land and production plants and facilities, the majority of which are located in Chile. As of December 31, 2002, Arauco owned approximately 921,793 hectares of land in Chile, over 602,673 hectares of which consist of forest plantations, and 200,989 hectares of land in Argentina, of which 99,435 consist of forest plantations. Arauco additionally owns various plants and facilities, including pulp mills, panel mills, sawmills and remanufacturing facilities in Chile and one pulp mill, one sawmill and one MDF mill in Argentina. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Description of Business—Pulp”, “—Sawmills” and “—Panels.”

 

Consistent with industry practice, Arauco maintains fire insurance coverage for all its Chilean forest holdings but does not insure against pests or disease. Its insurance covers timber loss, either at replacement cost or commercial value, depending on the age of the trees affected. Arauco also carries insurance, consistent with industry practice, covering its Chilean production plants, facilities and equipment. Such insurance includes coverage in the event of fire, explosion or natural disaster for 12 months’ profits (18 months in the case of a boiler explosion in Arauco’s Chilean pulp mills). All of Arauco’s Chilean insurance policies covering its forest holdings and production plants, facilities and equipment have been entered into with Compañía de Seguros Generales Cruz del Sur S.A. (“Cruz del Sur”), an affiliated company. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Major Shareholders.”

 

Alto Paraná does not maintain fire insurance for its timber assets because the Company believes that the risk of damage from fire is low because Argentina receives significant amounts of rainfall, particularly during the summer months. Alto Paraná carries insurance covering its mills and its equipment in the event of fire, explosion or natural disaster.

 

For a description of environmental issues that may affect the Company’s utilization of its assets, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Government Regulation.”

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

 

In order to utilize its increasing volumes of forest production, Arauco has continually added on to, expanded and modernized its processing facilities. Arauco’s planned capital expenditures include the construction of the Valdivia Mill in the Tenth Region of Chile for the production of bleached pulp. This facility is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2004 with a projected annual capacity of approximately 700,000 metric tons of bleached pulp. Construction of the mill began in December 2001. The project is expected to require capital

 

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expenditures of approximately U.S.$600 million, to be funded with a mix of debt and the Company’s general cash flows, of which approximately U.S.$173.8 million had already been paid as of December 31, 2002.

 

Aggregate capital expenditures were U.S.$263.6 million for 2000, consisting primarily of U.S.$110.8 million in investments in the wood products business (including the second plywood line), U.S.$99.8 million in investments in the pulp business and U.S.$52.9 million in investments in the forestry area.

 

Aggregate capital expenditures were U.S.$223.8 million for 2001, consisting primarily of U.S.$110.4 million in investments in the pulp business, U.S.$58.8 million in investments in the wood products business and U.S.$53.3 million in investments in the forestry area.

 

Aggregate capital expenditures were U.S.$330.8 million for 2002, consisting primarily of U.S.$235.7 million in investments in the pulp business (including the first stage of the Valdivia Mill Project), U.S.$51.6 million in investments in the wood products business and U.S.$40.5 million in investments in the forestry area.

 

During the third quarter of 2002, Arauco began operations at two new MDF mills, one in Chile and one in Argentina. These plants were built through an aggregate investment of U.S.$135 million.

 

In the wood products sector, Arauco expects to build an average of one sawmill every two years during the next decade, each to have an annual production capacity of approximately 250,000 cubic meters of sawn timber, with total capital expenditures of approximately U.S.$20 million each, to be funded with the Company’s general cash flows.

 

The capital expenditures described above represent amounts accrued for purposes of Arauco’s financial statements and do not necessarily represent the cash cost of capital expenditures during the period.

 

Arauco believes that cash flow generated by operations, cash balances, borrowings from commercial banks, export credit agencies and multilateral lending agencies, debt offerings in the domestic and international capital markets, will be sufficient to meet Arauco’s working capital, debt service and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

 

Environment

 

Arauco’s policy is to maintain high standards of environmental performance and to comply with all applicable environmental laws and regulations. Arauco believes that it is in material compliance with all governmental environmental requirements affecting its facilities and products.

 

In 2002, Arauco incurred annual operating expenditures of approximately U.S.$1.6 million on environmental management and improvement programs, in addition to varying amounts of annual capital expenditures for such purposes, which totaled approximately U.S.$8.1 million, including expenses related to the Valdivia Mill Project. Arauco believes that expenditures on environmental management and improvement programs can be expected to increase in the future.

 

Chile. Chilean companies, including Arauco, are subject to numerous national and local environmental laws, regulations, decrees and municipal ordinances concerning, among other things, health, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous wastes and discharges into the air and water. Chilean environmental regulations have become increasingly stringent in recent years, particularly for the approval of new projects, and this trend is likely to continue. Arauco has made and will continue to make substantial expenditures to comply with such environmental laws, regulations, decrees and ordinances.

 

Chilean legislation to which Arauco is subject include the Chilean Environmental Law, which was enacted in 1994 and entered into effect in April 1997 after publication of the related regulations. The Chilean Environmental Law created the Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente (the National Environmental Commission or “CONAMA”)

 

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and Comisiones Regionales del Medio Ambiente (the Regional Environmental Commissions or “COREMA”), which are agencies of the Secretaría General de la Presidencia (the “Ministry of the Presidency”), having responsibility for, among other things, coordinating existing environmental regulations and evaluating environmental impact studies. Under this law, Arauco is required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may effect the environment. These regulations also establish procedures for private citizens to object to the plans or studies submitted by project owners.

 

In addition to the evaluation of environmental impact studies, CONAMA and COREMA also oversee the implementation of projects in accordance with their environmental impact statements. Under the Chilean Environmental Law, affected persons, including private citizens, as well as public agencies and local governmental authorities can sue to enforce environmental compliance. Enforcement remedies include temporary or permanent closure of facilities and fines. As a result, application of the environmental laws may adversely affect the manner in which Arauco seeks to implement its business strategy and, to a certain extent, Arauco’s ability to realize its strategy.

 

Argentina. Alto Paraná is subject to Argentine environmental legislation, including regulation by municipal, provincial and federal governmental authorities. Alto Paraná has incurred and expects to incur significant capital and operating expenditures to comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Arauco believes that Alto Paraná is currently in material compliance with all applicable local and national environmental regulations governing the operations of its pulp mill and forestry operations.

 

Water used or recovered in the production process is treated and purified before being returned to the Alto Paraná River at the proper temperature. All gaseous emissions are scrubbed to ensure satisfactory levels of waste particle recovery and odor removal. Regular testing of river and air quality is used to monitor the ultimate impact of the mill on the environment.

 

Forestry Regulation

 

Chile. The management and exploitation of forests in Chile is regulated by the Forests Law of 1931, as amended (the “Forests Law”), and Decree-Law No. 701 of 1974, as amended (“Decree-Law 701”). The Forests Law and Decree-Law 701 impose a variety of restrictions on the management and exploitation of forests. Forestry activities, including thinning, on land which is designated as preferably suited for forests or which has natural or planted forest, are subject to management plans that require the approval of the Corporación Nacional Forestal (the National Forestry Corporation, or “CONAF”). In addition, the Forests Law and Decree-Law 701 impose certain standards for the prevention of forest fires as well as fines for the harvesting or destruction of trees and shrubs in violation of the terms of a forest management plan. Arauco believes that it is in material compliance with the Forests Law and Decree-Law 701.

 

Decree-Law No. 701 granted a subsidy to persons who plant forests on lands specifically designated as preferably suited for such purpose pursuant to a forest management plan approved by CONAF. These benefits expired on December 31, 1995. Law No. 19,561 extended the subsidy provided by Decree-Law 701 for 15 years, but such extension only benefits small landowners and owners of eroded land, and such extension is only available once for each area of land. Even without such benefits, Arauco believes that the potential profits to be earned from its plantations will support the resulting higher cost structure, and thus continued planting during 2002.

 

The Chilean Congress is currently considering a bill which provides for the management and conservation of native tree forests and forest development (the “Recuperation Bill”). The Recuperation Bill would establish a fund for the conservation and sustainable management of native forests. Owners of native forests would be able to participate so long as they had a management plan approved by CONAF. Depending on the owner’s approved plan, as well as other factors, the subsidy provided by the fund would be between U.S.$200 and U.S.$400 per hectare. The Recuperation Bill would prohibit the harvesting of native trees in certain areas and under certain conditions. The possible effect of this bill on the business of Arauco, if any, cannot be quantified, but management believes it will not have an adverse effect. Currently Arauco does not perform clear cutting of native forest or any cutting in areas surrounding rivers and streams, areas of notable environmental interest or areas with particularly fragile soil conditions. See “—Environment.”

 

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All of Arauco’s forest activities have the environmental certification ISO 14001. Arauco is also undergoing certification in Chile for the National Standard for Sustainable Forest Management (CERTFOR), which is a member of the Pan European Forest Certification (PEFC). Arauco expects to complete the certification process during the second half of 2003.

 

Argentina. The management and exploitation of forests in Argentina is regulated by National Law 13,273, National Law 25,080, National Decree 710, Provincial Law No. 854 and other regulations promulgated thereunder, which collectively constitute the “Regulatory Framework.” The Regulatory Framework imposes a variety of restrictions on the management and exploitation of forests in Argentina. The Regulatory Framework regulates the replanting of land after harvesting. Alto Paraná believes that it is in material compliance with the Regulatory Framework.

 

National Law 25,080 provides, among other benefits, for subsidies to individuals and companies for the recovery of a portion of their costs in planning and managing forest land. These subsidies are not material to Alto Paraná, however, as they are only available with respect to a maximum of 500 hectares per year.

 

In June 2002, Alto Paraná certified its Forestry Operations under ISO 14001 Certification.

 

Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.

 

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following discussion is based on Arauco’s consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, included elsewhere herein, and should be read in conjunction therewith. The consolidated financial statements are prepared in U.S. dollars in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

 

Overview

 

Arauco derives its sales revenue from the sale of bleached and unbleached pulp and forestry and wood products, such as sawlogs, pulpwood, sawn timber, remanufactured wood products and panels. For 2002, export sales constituted approximately 86.4% of Arauco’s total sales revenue, and were made primarily to Europe, Asia and the United States, Central and South America, and, to a lesser extent, Africa and the Middle East. Sales of pulp constitute the single largest component of Arauco’s sales revenue. As with many commodities, pulp, and accordingly Arauco’s sales revenue, is subject to cyclical fluctuations in price determined by global supply and demand. World prices for forestry and wood products, which are also generally marketed as commodities, fluctuate significantly.

 

Although prices tend to have the most significant effect on Arauco’s results of operations, sales volume and product mix, costs, and exchange rate fluctuations also can have a substantial impact on Arauco’s results.

 

Arauco’s business and results of operations are, to a large extent, dependent on the level of economic activity, government and foreign exchange policies and political and economic developments in its principal export markets. In 2002, approximately 94.5% of Arauco’s total pulp sales and approximately 78.2% of its total panels, forestry and wood product sales were attributable to exports, principally to customers in Asia and Europe. Arauco’s business, earnings and prospects may be materially affected by developments with respect to inflation, interest rates, currency fluctuations, protectionism, government subsidies, price and wage controls, exchange control regulations, taxation, expropriation, social instability or other political, economic or diplomatic developments in these export markets.

 

At December 31, 2002, approximately 74.6% of Arauco’s long-lived assets were located in Chile and approximately 25.4% were located in Argentina. In 2002, approximately 10.6% of Arauco’s consolidated sales revenue was derived from sales in Chile and approximately 2.9% was derived from sales in Argentina. Accordingly, Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations are to a certain extent dependent upon the economic conditions in Chile and Argentina.

 

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The Chilean economy grew every year between 1984 and 1998, expanding at a real average annual rate of approximately 7.3% from 1990 through 1998. Despite its growth, it has remained smaller than the economies of certain other Latin American countries. In 1999, the Chilean economy contracted at a real rate of 0.8%, compared to growth of 3.2% in 1998. The unemployment rate during the fourth quarter of 1999 reached 8.9%. In 2000 and 2001, the Chilean economy showed some signs of recovery, such as gross domestic product growth of 4.2% in 2000 and 3.1% in 2001, but slowed to 2.1% in 2002. Unemployment remained high, reaching 7.9% in the fourth quarter of 2001 and averaging 9.0% during 2002. There can be no assurance that future developments in the Chilean economy will not impair Arauco’s ability to proceed with its strategic plan or its business, financial condition or results of operations. Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations could also be adversely affected by changes in economic or other policies of the Chilean government (which has exercised and continues to exercise a substantial influence over many aspects of the private sector) or other political or economic developments in Chile, as well as regulatory changes or administrative practices of Chilean authorities, over which Arauco has no control.

 

Since 1999, the Argentine economy has been in an economic recession marked by reduced levels of consumption and investment and an elevated unemployment rate. The Argentine gross domestic product decreased by 3.4% in 1999, 0.8% in 2000, 4.4% in 2001 and 10.9% (estimated) in 2002. In December 2001, amid public demonstrations and the resignation of the Argentine President, Argentina declared a suspension on payment of its foreign debt. In early 2002, Argentina released the Argentine peso from its one-to-one peg to the dollar and allowed the exchange rate to float, resulting in a 49.6% devaluation of the Argentine peso from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2002. The ongoing economic crisis may have an adverse effect on Arauco’s Argentine operations and, as a result, Arauco’s overall financial condition and results of operations.

 

Prices

 

Arauco’s sales revenue in recent years has been affected by price level volatility in the export market. The prices for each of Arauco’s pulp products and forestry and wood products depend on the markets in which they are sold; while prices are generally similar for a given product on a global basis, more regionalized market conditions affect prices in markets such as Asia, Europe and the United States.

 

The prices that Arauco is able to obtain for its pulp products depend on prevailing world prices, which historically have been cyclical, with prices subject to significant fluctuations over relatively short periods of time depending on worldwide demand, world production capacity, the business strategies adopted by major integrated forestry, pulp and paper producers and other major producers and the availability of substitutes. All of these factors are beyond Arauco’s control.

 

As a result of industry overcapacity and recession in many of the world’s economies, the worldwide pulp and paper industry experienced a period of low prices, beginning in early 1990, through the first quarter of 1994. In 1994 prices began to increase, reaching a peak during the third quarter of 1995. Prices declined sharply in 1996 and improved modestly during 1997. Prices decreased in 1998, principally due to the reduction in demand for pulp caused by the Asian economic crisis. Specifically, the benchmark world NBSK price (CIF Northern Europe for Northern bleached softwood kraft market pulp) fell from a high of U.S.$975 per ton during the fourth quarter of 1995 to U.S.$448 in 1998.

 

NBSK pulp prices steadily and consistently increased during 1999 and 2000 due to a recovery of demand for pulp in Asia and a reduction in producers’ inventories. The increase in pulp prices was accompanied by a decline in stocks, increasing NBSK prices to U.S.$670 per ton on December 31, 2000. There has not been a corresponding increase in pulp production capacity, as few pulp projects have been undertaken in recent years. However, in 2000 prices began to fall, and they further declined in 2001 to U.S.$470 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2001, due to decreases in demand for pulp, combined with industry overcapacity. The market price of pulp fell by a total of U.S.$197.5 per ton in 2001, a decrease of 29.5% from December 31, 2000, largely due to the global recession, which depressed prices to their lowest levels ever in real terms. In 2002 prices remained low, largely due to the sluggish global economic recovery, ranging from a low in the monthly average market price of U.S.$435 per ton in April and a high of U.S.$483 per ton in July. The market price of pulp ended the year at U.S.$435 per ton on December 31, 2002. Prices rose during the first quarter of 2003, reaching an average price of U.S.$520 per ton in March 2003, a 20% increase from March 2002.

 

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Unbleached softwood kraft market pulp prices also follow cyclical patterns. However, the fluctuations tend to be less extreme, notwithstanding the relatively small number of producers and customers of unbleached market pulp. As an indication of this product’s cyclicality, the price for unbleached softwood kraft market pulp (delivered in the United States) fell from a high of U.S.$925 per ton in 1995 to U.S.$440 in 1996, rising to U.S.$485 in 1997 to fall again to U.S.$398 in 1998. The price for unbleached softwood kraft market pulp (delivered in the United States) rose to as high as U.S.$495 per ton in 1999, with a high of U.S.$595 in December 2000. However, in 2000 and 2001, prices of unbleached kraft pulp (“UKP”) softened, due to lower levels of economic activity resulting in less demand for export packaging material and lower prices of UKP substitutes, such as old corrugated containerboard (“OCC”). The price of UKP delivered in the United States was U.S.$440 per ton in December 2001 and U.S.$400 per ton at the end of March 2002. The UKP market began showing signs of recovery beginning in the second quarter of 2002, as prices increased to U.S.$430 in May 2002. This tendency continued until September 2002, when the price was U.S.$455 per ton. During the following months prices decreased, ending the year at U.S.$430 per ton in December 2002. During the first quarter of 2003 UKP prices rose, reaching U.S.$480 per ton in March 2003, a 17% increase from March 2002.

 

Prices for forestry and wood products, as for any commodity, can also fluctuate significantly. In 1995, the forestry and wood products market was volatile, with relatively lower prices towards the end of the year due primarily to excessive supply. Prices continued to be low in the first half of 1996 but improved in the second half of the year as a result of an increase in demand. During the first six months of 1997, the demand and prices for wood products increased in major international markets primarily as a result of low inventories in Asia and the Middle East and high demand in the United States and Chile. Demand remained steady during the second half of 1997, despite declines in financial markets worldwide, particularly in emerging markets. During 1998, prices were generally weaker as a result of the Asian economic crisis. Prices and sales volume increased on an aggregate basis during 1999. Development of the United States construction sector and an improved economic environment resulted in significant increases in both prices and sales volume to the United States during 1999. The economic recovery in Asia during 1999 allowed sales volume to increase to levels comparable to price levels prior to the Asian economic crisis; nonetheless, prices remained below 1997 highs. At the same time, the European market was oversupplied by Scandinavian producers, resulting in lower prices during 1999, while European sales volumes remained level. Domestic prices remained steady during 1999, while sales volumes increased.

 

There were oversupplies of lumber and remanufactured products in the year 2000 in the United States market, which reduced prices and profits for that market throughout 2000. A slight recovery began in the fourth quarter of the year, as inventories began to be depleted. Competition from new suppliers in the Asian and Middle Eastern markets reduced Arauco’s revenues from these areas. Scandinavian and Baltic products created an oversupply in Europe similar to the one in the United States, which also resulted in lower prices throughout the year. However, prices and sales volumes in the domestic market increased during 2000.

 

The recovery in the last quarter of 2000 extended itself into the early second quarter of 2001. Strong housing starts in the U.S. and low levels of inventory increased prices in forestry and wood products in the U.S. market. Asian and Latin American markets followed the same trend. However, Europe continued to have oversupplies of wood products, and exchange rate considerations rendered prices even less favorable. The economic downturn following the events of September 11, 2001 led to considerable declines in sales volumes and price levels for wood products across North America. Japan’s poor economic performance led to reduced import volumes, and prices decreased to their lowest levels in 15 years. In China, on the other hand, import volumes continued to increase and prices were unaffected by developments in other markets.

 

The beginning of 2002 marked an increase in demand for forestry and wood products, primarily because inventories had been reduced in most markets as a result of the business downsizing that followed September 11, 2001. Demand for panel products and lumber products rose in the first three months of 2002, led by the recovery in the U.S. market, a stronger euro in Europe and increased market activity in Korea and China. The Japanese market continued to lag behind, but showed some improvement over the previous quarter. Demand in the Chilean domestic market also increased as a consequence of the seasonal rise in construction.

 

During the second and third quarters of 2002 the prices for forestry products in the United States were weak and fluctuating. This led to similar pricing in Mexico and Brazil, markets that have become increasingly important in Arauco’s export sales portfolio. The same situation arose in Europe, with the exceptions of England

 

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and Spain. The situation was different in Asia, especially for plywood in China and Korea, due in large part to increased economic activity relating to the soccer World Cup. The Chilean market showed a decrease in activity, mostly due to the appreciation of the Chilean peso against the U.S. dollar. The combined effect of these factors led to a decrease in sales prices and volumes.

 

The last quarter of 2002 was marked by a decrease in the volumes and prices for forestry and wood products in the United States largely because of the possibility of a war in Iraq. Europe showed signs of recovery with higher volumes, while prices remained stable, enhanced by the appreciation of the euro. The activity in Korea slowed after the soccer World Cup, leading to a decrease in prices of MDF. At the same time, prices of remanufactured products increased in China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. During this quarter, the global market was affected by the uncertainty of the effects that the war in Iraq might have on the economy.

 

During the first quarter of 2003, the plywood market was affected by the closing of some plywood mills in the United States and prices decreased. The same effect was observed in the remanufactured products market in the United States. Latin America maintained relatively higher prices for forestry and wood products. The war in Iraq did not significantly affect the Middle Eastern market, where prices remained high for the period. Asia had similar levels of activity. The impact of SARS could affect the market during the rest of the year.

 

There can be no assurance that the prices for Arauco’s pulp, forestry and wood products will remain stable or that they will not decline in the future. Arauco’s results of operations would be materially adversely affected if the price of its products were to decline from current levels.

 

These average unit sales prices for Arauco’s products are set forth in the table below for the periods indicated.

 

     Year ended December 31,

Product(1)


   2000

   2001

   2002

     (U.S.$ per metric ton)(2)

Bleached pulp

   681.3    427.8    410.1

Unbleached pulp

   547.8    355.5    373.0
     (U.S.$ per cubic meter)(2)

Sawlogs

   41.4    32.3    29.0

Sawn timber

   180.3    139.4    132.4

Remanufactured wood products

   437.3    409.2    554.1

Plywood and fiber panels

   342.7    302.8    277.3

(1)   Each category of product contains different grades and types and the shipping terms vary with the product, as well as the customer.
(2)   Arauco generally makes its price quotations in U.S. dollars both for domestic and export sales.

 

Costs

 

Arauco’s major costs of sales are costs related to harvesting (forestry works), the cost of timber, the cost of mill processing, freight, depreciation and maintenance costs. Arauco’s major administration and selling expenses are wages and salaries and selling expenses.

 

Arauco’s cost of timber consists of the cost of growing its own trees, the cost of timber purchased from third parties and the cost of purchasing the right to harvest plantations owned by third parties (known as “stumpage”). The cost of its own trees consists of the cost of planting, capitalized direct and indirect interest, cost of forest development and the cost of forestry management activities (planting and site preparation procedures, thinning and pruning, protection and maintenance) performed in each plantation during the harvest cycle prior to harvesting.

 

Arauco accounts for the accumulated cost of its own trees on a plantation-by-plantation basis as long-term forest assets. The cost of each plantation differs depending on the types of forest management activities performed (e.g., pruning and extensive thinning for plantations managed for a high proportion of clear wood production and application of fertilizer in areas of relatively poor soil quality), as well as the plantation’s accessibility, so that total inventory cost will depend on the mix of plantations designated for harvest. Such costs are charged to cost of sales at the time of sale.

 

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Arauco’s property, plant and equipment are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the remaining useful lives of the underlying assets. However, the amount of such depreciation that relates to Arauco’s fixed production assets (such as pulp mills and sawmills) is allocated to finished goods held as inventories and accumulates until charged to cost of sales when the finished goods are sold. Forests and land are not depreciated.

 

Arauco’s transportation costs are accounted for as cost of sales and include port costs and freight and other transportation costs. Port costs are those costs arising from the transportation of products from one of Arauco’s site storage facilities into the hold of the ship. Freight is the cost of shipping the product to the port of destination. Other transportation costs are primarily incurred in the transportation of products from the forest to one of Arauco’s facilities and between such facilities. Selling expenses consist primarily of per ton fees paid by Arauco to its selling agents.

 

Exchange Rate Fluctuations

 

The Chilean peso has been subject to devaluation in the past and could be subject to significant fluctuations in the future. In the period from December 31, 1998 to December 31, 2002 the value of the Chilean peso relative to the U.S. dollar decreased approximately 34.3% in nominal terms and 25.8% in real terms, as compared to a 9.2% increase in value in real terms in the period from December 31, 1994 to December 31, 1998. During the first three months of 2003, the value of the Chilean peso relative to the U.S. dollar decreased approximately 1.8% in nominal terms and increased approximately 0.3% in real terms, in each case based on the observed exchange rates on December 31, 2002 and March 31, 2003. The observed exchange rate on June 23, 2003 was Ch705.46 = U.S.$1.00. See “Item 3. Key Information—Exchange Rates.”

 

During the first six months of 2002, the value of the Chilean peso relative to the U.S. dollar decreased approximately 4.8% in nominal terms (before adjusting for inflation) and decreased approximately 4.1% in real terms (after adjusting for inflation), in each case based on the observed exchange rates on December 31, 2001 and June 30, 2002. The value of the Chilean peso relative to the U.S. dollar continued to decrease in the third and fourth quarters of 2002 and as a result, during 2002, the value of the Chilean peso relative to the U.S. dollar decreased approximately 6.3% in real terms (after adjusting for inflation), in each case based on the observed exchange rates published by the Central Bank on December 31, 2001 and December 31, 2002.

 

Arauco generally prices its exports in U.S. dollars and domestic sales in Chilean pesos. To the extent that the Chilean peso depreciates against the U.S. dollar, Arauco’s domestic sales revenues may be adversely affected as measured in U.S. dollars. Conversely, appreciation of the Chilean peso may have a positive effect on domestic sales revenue as measured in U.S. dollars. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations is partially offset by the fact that certain of Arauco’s operating expenses are denominated in U.S. dollars (such as its freight costs and selling expenses in the form of commissions paid to its sales agents abroad) and a significant part of its indebtedness is denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2002, Arauco’s U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness was U.S.$1.6 billion. In addition, as the U.S. dollar appreciates against the local currency in any of Arauco’s export markets, Arauco must from time to time price its sales in that local currency to compete effectively.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

A summary of Arauco’s significant accounting policies is included in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18. Management believes that the consistent application of these policies enables Arauco to provide readers of the financial statements with more useful and reliable information about Arauco’s operating results and financial condition. The following are the accounting policies that management believes are the most important to the portrayal of Arauco’s financial condition and results of operations and require management’s most difficult, subjective, or complex judgments.

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

The key judgments management must make under the property, plant, and equipment policy include the estimation of the useful lives of Arauco’s various asset types, the election to utilize primarily the straight-line

 

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method for recording depreciation, management’s judgment regarding appropriate capitalization or expensing of costs related to fixed assets, and management’s determination that no impairment exists.

 

Property, plant, and equipment is stated on Arauco’s balance sheet at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment, and other depreciable assets is determined using primarily the straight-line method. The estimation of useful lives for fixed assets impacts the level of annual depreciation expense recorded. Utilization of the straight-line method for recording depreciation or any of the other acceptable methods for depreciating assets will result in the same amount of depreciation over the life of an asset; however, the amount of annual depreciation expense and the resulting carrying amount of net property, plant, and equipment can vary significantly depending on the method elected.

 

Property, plant, and equipment assets are evaluated for possible impairment on a specific asset basis or in groups of similar assets, as applicable. This process requires management’s estimate of future cash flows generated by each asset or group of assets. For any instance where this evaluation process indicates impairment, the appropriate asset’s carrying values are written down to net realizable value and the amount of the write-down is charged against the results of continuing operations.

 

Expenditures that substantially improve and/or increase the useful life of facilities or equipment are capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Management’s evaluation of whether an expenditure related to property, plant, and equipment substantially improves and/or increases the useful life of an asset and is appropriately capitalized as an addition to the asset’s cost basis or is expensed as normal maintenance and repair expense can significantly affect results of operations for a given period, as well as Arauco’s financial position.

 

Forests

 

Forests are stated at cost of development less the cost of forest harvested. Forest costs consist primarily of purchased timber, planting, maintenance, protection, and other direct costs related to the plantation of the forest. Direct and indirect interest costs of developing forests are capitalized until the forest is deemed to have reached an exploitable stage. These capitalized interest costs are included in the historical cost of the forest. Forests do not include any estimated future reforestation costs. The cost of forest harvested is based on the volume of forest harvested in relation to the estimated volume of forest recoverable. Arauco’s estimated volume of forest recoverable is based on statistical information and data obtained from physical measurements and other information gathering techniques. Such information gathered and data used requires, to a certain extent, estimates and judgments in determining the amount of forest recoverable.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories of raw materials, work-in-process and spare parts are stated at the lower of cost or market, primarily using the average cost method. Finished goods are stated at the lower of average production costs for the period, or market. Inventory costs include materials, labor, transportation, depreciation of fixed assets and production overhead as appropriate. Determination of the net realizable value of each component of inventory is based on the current invoice price. Work-in-process inventories require estimation of the future cost per unit to complete manufacturing from each stage of processing, using historical manufacturing costs. These estimates can affect the carrying value for inventories, and any required inventory write-down can affect results of operations in both current and future periods.

 

Goodwill

 

Goodwill is the excess of acquisition cost of a business over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is deemed to have an indefinite life and not amortized. However, these indefinite life assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis and when indicators of impairment are determined to exist by applying a fair-value based test. Management must exercise judgment in assessing goodwill for impairment. Management reviews the recorded value of Arauco’s goodwill annually or sooner if changes in circumstances indicate that the

 

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carrying amount may exceed fair value. Recoverability of the carrying value of the asset is determined by comparing it to net book value, including goodwill and the estimated future net cash flows of the relevant assets.

 

Deferred Income Tax

 

Arauco uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, the provision for income taxes includes amounts currently payable and amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities, based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and is measured using the enacted tax rates that are assumed will be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance which is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. In making the determination of the valuation allowance, management considers both positive and negative evidence and makes certain assumptions, including projections of taxable income. Changes in these assumptions may have a material impact on results.

 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

 

Arauco provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a review of the specific receivable. A 100% provision is applied for those customers for which collectibility is in doubt. Management must make certain judgments and estimates in determining accounts that are considered to be in doubt.

 

Changes in Accounting Standards

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (“FAS No. 143”). FAS No. 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the entity either settles the obligation for the amount recorded or incurs a gain or loss. FAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. Although Arauco is evaluating the effects of this Statement on its financial position and results of operations, management does not believe that the adoption of this Statement will have a material impact on the results of its operations.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“FAS 146”). This statement supersedes Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. FAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF 94-3, a liability is recognized at the date an entity commits to an exit plan. FAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. The provisions of FAS 146 will be effective for any exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Arauco is evaluating the effect of this statement on its financial position and results of operations. However, it does not expect the adoption will have a material impact on Arauco’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (FIN 45). FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued. Initial recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 45 are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified. Arauco is evaluating the impact of the new interpretation. However, the adoption of FIN 45 is not expected to have a material impact on Arauco’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 requires that companies that control another entity through interests other than voting interests

 

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should consolidate the controlled entity. FIN 46 applies to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. The related disclosure requirements are effective immediately. Arauco has evaluated the impact of the new interpretation and the adoption will not have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

 

Effective January 1, 2003, Arauco implemented FAS No. 145, “Rescission of FAS Nos. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FAS 13, and Technical Corrections” (“FAS No. 145”), under which gains and losses from extinguishment of debt should be classified as extraordinary items only if they meet criteria outlined in Accounting Principles Bulletin No. 30. Under FAS No. 145 Arauco has recorded losses on the early extinguishment of debt in earnings from continuing operations in its statements of earnings.

 

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Results of Operations

 

The following table provides a breakdown of Arauco’s sales revenue and volumes, cost of sales and administration and selling expenses for the last three fiscal years.

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

     Sales

    Volume

   Sales

    Volume

   Sales

    Volume

     (in millions of U.S.$, except where indicated)

Sales Revenue:

                                

Bleached pulp(1)

   637.9     936    554.8     1,297    498.5     1,216

Unbleached pulp(1)

   154.1     281    150.6     424    130.3     349

Sawlogs (net)(2)

   40.9     989    16.6     515    17.0     585

Pulplogs(2)

   11.4     516    11.1     451    6.7     419

Posts

   8.0     5    5.9     27    7.5     45

Sawn timber(2)

   194.4     1,078    165.9     1,190    199.9     1,510

Flitches

   8.5     72    5.6     43    6.0     54

Remanufactured wood products(2)

   80.9     185    111.7     273    137.4     248

Chips

   1.5     65    1.2     58    0.7     36

Plywood and fiberboard panels

   107.6     314    141.1     466    178.4     643
    

      

      

   

Other

   15.2     NA    9.2     NA    5.8     NA
    

      

      

   

Total sales revenue

   1,260.3          1,173.8          1,188.0      
    

      

      

   

Cost of Sales:

                                

Forestry labor costs

   131.5          129.8          122.9      

Timber

   119.8          132.9          110.0      

Port costs

   9.2          11.4          8.5      

Freight and other transportation costs

   123.2          157.6          146.3      
    

      

      

   

Other costs of sales

   220.4          258.1          233.1      
    

      

      

   

Total cost of sales

   604.1          689.8          620.5      
    

      

      

   

Gross margins

   52.1 %        41.2 %        47.8 %    

Depreciation

   106.6          119.8          103.9      

Administration and Selling Expenses:

                                

Wages and salaries

   36.0          33.2          27.5      

Other administration and selling expenses

   66.7          60.8          73.0      
    

      

      

   

Total administration and selling expenses

   102.7          94.0          100.5      
    

      

      

   

Total cost of sales and administration and selling expenses

   813.4          903.7          824.9      
    

      

      

   

Operating margin

   35.5 %        23.0 %        30.6 %    

(1)   Volumes measured in thousands of metric tons.
(2)   Volumes measured in thousands of cubic meters.

 

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Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales increased 1.2% from U.S.$1,173.8 million in 2001 to U.S.$1,188.0 million in 2002, principally as a result of a 26.4% increase in sales of plywood and fiberboard panels and a 20.9% increase in sales of wood products, partially offset by a 10.9% decrease in pulp sales.

 

Pulp Sales

 

Sales revenue of bleached and unbleached pulp decreased 10.9% from U.S.$705.4 million in 2001 to U.S.$628.8 million in 2002, reflecting a 9.0% decrease in sales volume and a decrease of 2.0% in nominal prices for pulp. Sales of bleached pulp decreased by 10.2% due to a 6.3% decrease in sales volume and a 4.1% decrease in the average nominal price of bleached pulp. Sales of unbleached pulp decreased by 13.5% due to a decrease in sales volume of 17.5%, which was partially offset by the effect of a 4.9% increase in the average nominal price of unbleached pulp.

 

Forestry Sales

 

Sales revenue of forestry products decreased 7.6% from U.S.$33.6 million in 2001 to U.S.$31.1 million in 2002, reflecting a 12.5% decrease in nominal prices, which was partially offset by the effect of a 5.6% increase in sales volume. Sales revenue of pulplogs decreased 39.7% as the result of a 35.0% decrease in average nominal prices and a 7.1% decrease in pulplog sales volume. The decrease was partially offset by an increase in post sales revenue of 25.8% due to a 65.0% increase in sales volume, the impact of which was partially offset by a 23.7% decrease in the nominal price of posts.

 

Wood Products Sales

 

Sales of wood products increased 21.2% from U.S.$284.4 million in 2001 to U.S.$343.9 million in 2002, reflecting an 18.1% increase in sales volume and a 2.4% increase in nominal prices of wood products. Sawntimber sales revenue increased 20.5% from U.S.$165.9 million in 2001 to U.S.$199.9 million in 2002 due to a 26.9% increase in sawntimber sales volume, which was partially offset by the effect of a 5.0% decrease in nominal prices. Sales of remanufactured wood products increased 23.0% from U.S.$111.7 million in 2001 to U.S.$137.4 million in 2002 due to a 35.4% increase in nominal prices, which was offset by the effect of a 9.2% decrease in sales volume.

 

Plywood and Fiberboard Panels Sales

 

Sales of plywood and fiberboard panels increased 26.4% from U.S.$141.1 million in 2001 to U.S.$178.4 million in 2002. This increase was primarily due to a 38.1% increase in sales volume, resulting from the commencement of production at a second MDF mill in Trupán and a new MDF mill in Misiones, Argentina during 2002, which was offset by the effect of an 8.4% decrease in nominal prices.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales decreased 10.1% from U.S.$689.8 million for 2001 to U.S.$620.5 million for 2002, primarily due to a 9.0% decrease in sales volume of pulp and a 7.1% decrease in sales volume of pulplogs. These decreases were partially offset by the effects of a 38.1% increase in sales volume of plywood and fiberboard panels and a 26.9% increase in sales volume of sawntimber.

 

Gross Margins

 

Gross margins increased from 41.2% for 2001 to 47.8% in 2002, primarily as a result of an increase in sales volume and the decrease in cost of sales.

 

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Depreciation

 

Depreciation decreased 13.3% from U.S.$119.8 million for 2001 to U.S.$103.9 million for 2002, mainly due to a 20.0% decrease in the pulp industry depreciation expense from U.S.$94.3 million in 2001 to U.S.$75.4 million in 2002. This was in turn primarily due to the fact that the depreciation expense related to the depreciation of the Arauco II mill was substantially completed in 2002.

 

Selling and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling and administrative expenses increased 6.9% from U.S.$94.0 million in 2001 to U.S.$100.5 million in 2002, primarily as a result of a 20.1% increase in other administration and selling expenses, which was, in turn, largely due to an increase in expenses related to research projects. This was partially offset by a 17.3% decrease in wages and salaries expenses during 2002, from U.S.$33.2 million to U.S.$27.5 million, due primarily to the impact of the devaluation of the Chilean peso on salaries paid in pesos, as measured in dollars. As a percentage of sales revenue, selling and administrative expenses increased from 8.0% during 2001 to 8.5% during 2002, primarily as a result of the increase in variable administration expenses.

 

Income from operations

 

Income from operations increased 34.4% from U.S.$270.1 million in 2001 to U.S.$363.2 million in 2002, principally reflecting the 9.3% decrease in cost of sales as well as the 16.5% decrease in depreciation expense and 1.2% increase in net sales, partially offset by a 5.4% increase in selling and administrative expenses.

 

Non-Operating Income (Expense)

 

The Company’s total non-operating expense decreased from U.S.$77.5 million in 2001 to U.S.$26.5 million in 2002, primarily due to an increase in foreign exchange gains (losses) from a loss of U.S.$26.1 million in 2001 to a gain of U.S.$11.7 million in 2002.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income increased from U.S.$14.8 million in 2001 to U.S.$22.0 million in 2002, primarily due to Arauco’s higher average cash and equivalent and short-term investments position in 2002 as compared to 2001.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income increased from an expense of U.S.$3.9 million in 2001 to income of U.S.$1.5 million in 2002, primarily due to a decrease in other non-operating expenses, which was in turn largely due to an increase in forward contracts.

 

Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

Foreign exchange gains (losses) moved from a loss of U.S.$ 26.1 million in 2001 to a gain of U.S.$11.7 million in 2002, primarily due to a gain of U.S.$33 million attributable to investments denominated in euros, as a result of the appreciation of the euro against the dollar.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense remained relatively steady at U.S.$62.4 million in 2001 and U.S.$61.7 million in 2002. There was an increase in interest expense due to an increase in the average debt position of the Company because the 7.75% Notes were issued in September 2001 and so only accrued interest during the last quarter of 2001 compared to the whole year in 2002. At the same time more interest expenses were capitalized in 2002 than in 2001 for the Valdivia Mill Project and forest plantations, in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the effect of which was partially affected by a gain related to an interest rate swap contract.

 

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Income Taxes

 

In 2002, Arauco reported a tax expense of U.S.$52.6 million, as compared to an expense of U.S.$13.0 million in 2001. This increase was principally due to the greater pretax income in 2002. In accordance with Chilean law, the Company and each of its subsidiaries compute and pay tax on a separate basis and not on a consolidated basis. At December 31, 2002, Arauco’s consolidated Chilean subsidiaries had tax loss carryforwards of:

 

    in the case of Forestal Valdivia, U.S.$20.4 million; and

 

    in the case of Bioforest, U.S.$874,000.

 

These tax loss carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely.

 

In accordance with Argentine law, tax loss carryforwards can be applied to offset taxable income earned by Alto Paraná for five years following their incurrence. At December 31, 2002, Alto Paraná had U.S.$79.8 million in unutilized tax loss carryforwards expiring from 2005 to 2007.

 

Net Income

 

Arauco’s net income increased by 58.3% from U.S.$180.9 million in 2001 to U.S.$286.4 million in 2002. This increase was primarily due to a higher operating income and a lower non-operating expense, which were partially offset by higher income taxes.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2001 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2000

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales decreased 6.9% from U.S.$1,260.3 million in 2000 to U.S.$1,173.8 million in 2001, principally as a result of a 10.9% decrease in sales of pulp, partially offset by a 31.1% increase in sales of plywood and fiberboard.

 

Pulp Sales

 

Sales revenue of bleached and unbleached pulp decreased 10.9% from U.S.$792.0 million in 2000 to U.S.$705.4 million in 2001, reflecting a 37.0% decrease in nominal prices for pulp, partially offset by the effect of a 41.3% increase in sales volumes. Sales of bleached pulp decreased by 13.0% due to a 37.2% decrease in nominal sales prices, partially offset by the effect of a 38.5% increase in sales volume, principally to Asia. Sales of unbleached pulp decreased by 2.3% due to a 35.1% decrease in the average nominal price of unbleached pulp, partially offset by the effect of a 50.6% increase in sales volume, principally to Asia.

 

Forestry Sales

 

Sales revenue of forestry products decreased 44.2% from U.S.$60.3 million in 2000 to U.S.$33.6 million in 2001, reflecting a 34.2% decrease in sales volume and a 15.1% decrease in average nominal prices. Sales revenue of sawlogs decreased 59.4% as the result of a 47.9% decrease in sales volume and a 22.0% decrease in average nominal prices. Pulplogs sales revenue decreased 2.3% due to a 12.6% decrease in pulplogs sales volume, the effect of which was partially offset by a 11.8% increase in average nominal prices.

 

Wood Products Sales

 

Sales of wood products decreased 0.3% from U.S.$285.3 million in 2000 to U.S.$284.4 million in 2001 due to an 11.7% increase in sales volume, partially offset by the effect of a 10.8% decrease in nominal prices. Sawntimber sales revenue decreased 14.7% from U.S.$194.4 million in 2000 to U.S.$165.9 million in 2001 due to a 22.7% decrease in nominal prices, partially offset by the effect of a 10.4% increase in sawntimber sales volume. Sales of remanufactured wood products increased 38.1% from U.S.$80.9 million in 2000 to U.S.$111.7 million in 2001 due to a 47.6% increase in sales volumes, partially offset by the effect of a 6.4% decrease in nominal prices.

 

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Plywood and Fiberboard Panels Sales

 

Sales of plywood and fiberboard panels increased 31.1% from U.S.$107.6 million in 2000 to U.S.$141.1 million in 2001. This increase was primarily due to a 48.4% increase in sales volume, as a result of the acquisition of Cholguán and Trupán at the end of 2000, which was partially offset by the effect of an 11.6% decrease in nominal prices.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales increased 14.2% from U.S.$604.1 million for 2000 to U.S.$689.8 million for 2001, primarily due to the impact of the increase in cost of sales related to the increase in the sales volume of plywood and fiberboard panels and pulp, partially offset by the decrease in cost of sales attributable to the decrease in the sales volume of sawlogs and pulplogs. These variations in volume resulted in larger amount of timber costs, port and transportation costs and other costs of sales.

 

Gross Margin

 

Gross margins decreased from 52.1% for 2000 to 41.2% in 2001, primarily as a result of a 37.0 decrease in pulp prices and a 22.0% decrease in sawlogs prices, paired with higher costs of sales.

 

Depreciation

 

Depreciation expense increased 12.4%, from U.S.$106.6 million for 2000 to U.S.$119.8 million for 2001, mainly due to a 10.2% increase in the pulp industry depreciation expense from U.S.$85.5 million in 2000 to U.S.$94.3 million in 2001 and a 61.0% increase in the wood products industry depreciation expense from U.S.$13.0 million in 2000 to U.S.$20.9 million in 2001.

 

Selling and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling and administrative expenses decreased 8.4% from U.S.$102.7 million in 2000 to U.S.$94.0 million in 2001, primarily as a result of a 98.5% reduction in indemnification and severance payments made, primarily due to the acquisition in 2000 of Forestral Cholguán, partially offset by selling costs, which increased 38.1%. During this period, other administrative and selling expenses decreased 8.8% from U.S.$66.7 million in 2000 to $U.S.60.8 million in 2001 and wages and salaries expenses decreased 7.6% from U.S.$36.0 million in 2000 to U.S.$33.2 million in 2001. As a percentage of sales revenue, selling and administrative expenses decreased from 8.1% during 2000 to 8.0% during 2001, primarily as a result of the impact of the devaluation of the Chilean peso on wages and salaries paid in pesos, as measured in dollars, partially offset by higher transportation costs due to higher sales volume in panels.

 

Income from operations

 

Income from operations decreased 39.6% from U.S.$446.9 million in 2000 to U.S.$270.1 million in 2001, principally reflecting the decreases in nominal prices for pulp and the increase in cost of sales. The decrease in income from operations was partially offset by the increases in sales volume for pulp and panels and the decrease in selling and administrative expenses. The operating margin was 23.0% in 2001 compared to 35.5% in 2000.

 

Non-Operating Income (Expense)

 

Total non-operating expense increased from U.S.$49.6 million in 2000 to U.S.$77.5 million in 2001, primarily due to an increase in foreign exchange losses from a loss of U.S.$5.1 million in 2000 to a loss of U.S.$26.1 million in 2001.

 

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Interest Income

 

Interest income increased from U.S.$12.6 million in 2000 to U.S.$14.8 million in 2001, primarily due to Arauco’s higher average cash and equivalent and short-term investments position in 2001 as compared to 2000.

 

Other Income (Expense)

 

Other income decreased from an income of U.S.$5.2 million in 2000 to a loss of U.S.$3.9 million in 2001, primarily due to an increase in other non-operating expenses, which was in turn largely due to an increase in interest from bonds repurchased.

 

Foreign Exchange Gains (Losses)

 

Foreign exchange losses increased from a loss of U.S.$5.1 million in 2000 to a loss of U.S.$26.1 million in 2001, primarily due to the devaluation of the Argentine peso, which generated a loss of U.S.$17.0 million, and investments denominated in euros, which generated a loss of U.S.$8.0 million.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense remained relatively steady at U.S.$62.2 million in 2000 and U.S.$62.4 million in 2001. The average debt position of Arauco increased in 2001 because the 7.7% Notes were issued in September 2001 together with other bank debt. At the same time there were lower interest expenses in 2001 as compared to 2000 due to lower interest rates in 2001 as compared to 2000.

 

Income Taxes

 

In 2001, Arauco reported tax expenses of U.S.$13.0 million, as compared to U.S.$55.6 million in 2000. This result was principally due to lower income before taxes. In accordance with Chilean law, the Company and each of its subsidiaries compute and pay tax on a separate basis and not on a consolidated basis. At December 31, 2001, Arauco’s consolidated Chilean subsidiaries had tax loss carryforwards of:

 

    in the case of Forestal Valdivia, U.S.$17.7 million;

 

    in the case of Aserraderos Arauco, U.S.$2.8 million;

 

    in the case of Bioforest, U.S.$955 thousand;

 

    in the case of Inversiones Cholguán, U.S.$900 thousand;

 

    in the case of Centromaderas, U.S.$684 thousand; and

 

    in the case of Arauco Generación, U.S.$219 thousand.

 

These tax loss carryforwards can be carried forward indefinitely. In accordance with Argentine law, tax loss carryforwards can be applied to offset taxable income earned by Alto Paraná for five years following their incurrence. At December 31, 2001, Alto Paraná had U.S.$11.0 million in unutilized tax loss carryforwards that will expire in 2006.

 

Net Income

 

Arauco’s net income decreased by 47.0% from U.S.$341.2 million in 2000 to U.S.$180.9 million in 2001, due to lower income from operations due to lower pulp prices and higher non-operating expenses, which were partially offset by a lower provision for income taxes.

 

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LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Arauco’s primary sources of liquidity are funds from operations, domestic and international borrowings from commercial and investment banks, and debt offerings in the domestic and international capital markets.

 

Arauco’s net cash flow provided by (used by) operating activities was U.S.$417.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2000, use of U.S.$55.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2001, and use of U.S.$481.7 million during the year ended December 31, 2002. The increase in cash flow from operating activities in 2002 as compared to 2001 was principally due to investments and proceeds in trading securities and increases in accounts payable. The decrease in cash flow from operating activities in 2001 as compared to 2000 was principally due to the reduction in sales as a result of very low pulp prices and a decrease in investments and proceeds in trading securities.

 

In January 2003, Arauco made a capital contribution of U.S.$28.5 million to EKA Chile S.A. (“EKA Chile”). EKA Chile is the result of a joint venture between Arauco and EKA Chemicals, a Swedish chemical company that contributed existing equipment to the joint venture. EKA Chile is 50% controlled by each party. EKA Chile’s operations will be located in Talcahuano, nearby Arauco’s operations, and will provide chlorate to Arauco’s mills.

 

In 2002, Arauco’s main investments were the ongoing construction of the Valdivia Mill, with a capital expenditure of approximately U.S.$173.8 million, and the construction of a second MDF mill in Trupán and a new MDF mill in Misiones, Argentina, with an aggregate capital expenditure of U.S.$47.0 million.

 

In 2001, Arauco’s main investments were the purchase of an additional 377,485 shares of Cholguán for U.S.$158.8 thousand through its subsidiary Forestal Arauco and the acquisition of 16.7% of Inversiones Puerto Coronel S.A. for U.S.$3.0 million, resulting in goodwill of U.S.$1.4 million.

 

In 2000, Arauco’s main investments were the acquisition of Cholguán for a total purchase price of U.S.$266.2 million; the acquisition of the remaining 50% of Trupán from Carter Holt Harvey for U.S.$37 million; the construction of a second plywood production line for a total cost of approximately U.S.$46.4 million; and the start of construction of two MDF mills, one in Chile and the other in Argentina, in the last month of the year. For more information, see “Item 4. Information on the Company—Description of Business.”

 

For 2002, Arauco’s principal financing activities were:

 

    the interest rate swap in May of the fixed rate of 7.75% for the floating rate of the London inter-bank offered rate (“LIBOR”) plus 1.79875% on the notional amount of U.S.$200 million;

 

    the repurchase during the last quarter of U.S.$29.5 million of the 8.625% Notes and U.S.$13.0 million of the 7.75% Notes;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$4.4 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of our domestic bonds which bore interest at a rate of UF plus 6.0% (the UF rate is an interest spread in excess of the indexation of the UF); and

 

    the repayment of U.S.$37.5 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of our 1997 syndicated loan which bore interest at LIBOR plus 0.35%.

 

For 2001, Arauco’s principal financing activities were:

 

    the issue of U.S.$400 million of 7.75% notes due 2011;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$119.8 million 6.75% notes due 2003;

 

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    the issue of U.S.$250.0 million floating rate trust notes due 2006 by Alto Paraná through an Argentine financial trust, which trust notes were unconditionally guaranteed by Arauco;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$4.8 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of our domestic bonds which bore interest at a rate of UF plus 6.0%;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$6.2 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of our Export Development Corporation borrowing which bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.25%;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$37.5 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of our 1997 syndicated loan which bore interest at LIBOR plus 0.35%; and

 

    the prepayment of U.S.$200 million in aggregate principal amount of our 1996 syndicated loan which was scheduled to mature on December 2001 and bore interest at LIBOR plus 0.35%.

 

For 2000, Arauco’s principal financing activities were:

 

    the issue of its U.S.$300.0 million 8.625% notes due 2010;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$4.9 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of its domestic bonds which bore interest at a rate of UF plus 6.0%;

 

    the repayment of U.S.$6.1 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of its Export Development Corporation borrowing, which bore interest at LIBOR plus 1.25%; and

 

    the repayment of U.S.$37.5 million in aggregate principal amount at maturity of its 1997 syndicated loan, which bore interest at LIBOR plus 0.35%.

 

At December 31, 2000, it had no short-term bank borrowings. At December 31, 2001, the Company’s short-term bank borrowings were U.S.$86.6 thousand. At December 31, 2002, the Company’s short-term bank borrowings were U.S.$32.1 million.

 

The Company’s total long-term bank, export credit agency and multilateral lending agency debt (including the current portion of such debt) was U.S.$291.7 million at December 31, 2000, of which 100% was U.S. dollar-denominated. At December 31, 2000, the Company also had total capital markets borrowings of U.S.$932.4 million, 98.8% of which was dollar-denominated and 1.2% of which was UF-denominated. At December 31, 2000, the weighted average maturity of the Company’s Chilean peso-denominated debt (all of which is expressed in UF) was 1.9 years and the weighted average maturity of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated debt was 6.1 years. At that date, the average interest rate for the Company’s UF-denominated debt was 5.9% in excess of UF indices, the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated floating rate debt was 0.37% over LIBOR and the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated fixed rate debt was 7.76%.

 

The Company’s total long-term bank, export credit agency and multilateral lending agency debt (including the current portion of such debt) was U.S.$328.4 million at December 31, 2001, of which 100% was U.S. dollar-denominated. At December 31, 2001, the Company also had total capital markets borrowings of U.S.$1,287.2 million, 99.5% of which was U.S. dollar-dominated and 0.5% of which was UF-denominated. At December 31, 2001, the weighted average maturity of the Company’s Chilean peso-denominated debt (all of which is expressed in UF) was 1.4 years and the weighted average maturity of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated debt was 7.5 years. At that date, the average interest rate for the Company’s UF-denominated debt was 6.0% in excess of UF indices, the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated floating rate debt was 0.66% over LIBOR and the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated fixed rate debt was 7.57%.

 

The Company’s total long-term bank, export credit agency and multilateral lending agency debt (including the current portion of such debt) was U.S.$290.4 million at December 31, 2002, of which 100% was U.S. dollar-denominated. At December 31, 2002, the Company also had total capital markets borrowings of U.S.$1,240.3

 

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million, 99.8% of which was U.S. dollar-dominated and 0.2% of which was UF-denominated. At December 31, 2002, the weighted average maturity of the Company’s Chilean peso-denominated debt (all of which is expressed in UF) was 0.5 years and the weighted average maturity of the Company’s foreign currency-denominated debt was 6.3 years. At that date, the average interest rate for the Company’s UF-denominated debt was 6.0% in excess of UF indices, the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated floating rate debt was 0.68% over LIBOR and the average interest rate for the Company’s foreign currency-denominated fixed rate debt was 7.63%. The average rate figures for foreign currency-denominated debt do not reflect the effect of the U.S.$200 million swap of May 2002.

 

The instruments and agreements governing the Company’s domestic bonds and syndicated loans set limits on the Company’s incurrence of debt and liabilities through the use of financial covenants. The principal financial covenants contained in these agreements are:

 

    Arauco’s debt to equity ratio must not exceed the ratio of 1.2:1;

 

    Arauco’s interest coverage ratio must not be less than 2:0;

 

    Arauco is required to maintain a minimum consolidated net worth of U.S.$2.5 billion; and

 

    Arauco’s current liabilities must not exceed its current assets.

 

On May 23, 2003, Arauco entered into a new swap contract in which the floating rate of LIBOR plus 1.79875% on U.S.$200 million principal swapped on 2002 was swapped for a fixed interest rate of 5.506%.

 

In February 2003, Arauco, through its agency in Panama, obtained a five-year U.S.$150 million senior unsecured syndicated loan at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.85% from JP Morgan Chase and a group of banks. The proceeds will be used to refinance Arauco’s upcoming debt maturities in 2003 and for general corporate purposes.

 

On June 21, 2001, the Company irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed as primary obligor the issue of U.S.$250 million Floating Rate Trust Notes due 2006 by Alto Paraná. The Alto Paraná issue was done through a financial trustee under Argentine Law No. 24,441. See “Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions—Related Party Transactions.”

 

Most of our borrowings are denominated in dollars. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Foreign Currency Risk.”

 

Treasury Management

 

The Company manages the treasury activities of all of Arauco’s Chilean subsidiaries on a centralized basis. Arauco’s subsidiaries borrow from or lend money to the Company in accordance with their daily cash requirements or surplus, maintaining their cash balance close to zero (Arauco’s policy is not to allow its subsidiaries to invest in financial instruments) and other transactions. Decisions regarding short-term loans, short-term investments, currency transactions and other transactions are made for Arauco as a whole. Treasury activities are governed by Arauco’s cash and deposits policy, which is approved by the board of directors. The main principles of Arauco’s cash and deposits policy are:

 

    investments must be in fixed income instruments;

 

    the Company does not invest in stocks;

 

    investments must be in instruments from the Chilean Central Bank or from internationally recognized financial institutions; and

 

    transactions must be carried out only with banks or bank subsidiaries.

 

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Alto Paraná manages its treasury management independent from the Company. Its activities are governed by a cash and deposit policy that is approved by Alto Paraná’s board of directors. This policy is based on the same principles as those of Arauco.

 

The Company periodically reviews its exposure to risks arising from fluctuations in foreign exchange rates and interest rates and makes a determination on a case-by-case basis at its senior management level whether to hedge such risks. As a result, the Company from time to time enters into currency and interest rate swaps with respect to a portion of its borrowings. See Note 1(k) to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18. The Company has also analyzed its exposure to risks associated with fluctuations in prices of commodities, including pulp, but has thus far not entered into any hedging transactions with respect to such risks. See “Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.”

 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

 

Arauco spent U.S.$1.9 million in 2000, U.S.$1.5 million in 2001, and U.S.$1.6 million in 2002 on research and development. Arauco conducts its principal research and development programs through its wholly-owned subsidiary Bioforest, which concentrates its efforts on applying and implementing the advanced technology available in the market to the specific characteristics of Arauco’s forests and mills.

 

Alto Paraná is continuously researching and attempting to develop different strains of long-fiber pine trees in order to improve quality and to shorten the average harvest cycle. Additionally, Alto Paraná maintains close relations with international research institutes, equipment suppliers and the scientific and engineering community involved with its industry.

 

Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees.

 

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

The businesses of the Company are managed by a board of directors. The Company’s estatutos (by-laws) require that the board of directors consist of nine directors. Directors are not allowed to be executives of the Company. The entire board is elected every three years; the current board was elected in April 2002 and their terms will expire in 2005. The board may appoint replacements to fill any vacancies that occur during periods between elections; however, at the next annual shareholders’ meeting following any such replacement, an election of the entire board must take place. The Company’s executive officers are appointed by the board of directors and hold office at its discretion. Scheduled meetings of the board of directors are generally held once a month. Extraordinary board meetings are called when summoned by the Chairman or when requested by at least two directors.

 

The directors of the Company are listed below.

 

Name


   Years as
Director


   Position

   Age

José Tomás Guzmán

   17    Chairman    74

Roberto Angelini(1)

   17    Vice-Chairman    54

Jorge Andueza

   9    Director    54

Anacleto Angelini(1)

   17    Director    89

Manuel Bezanilla

   17    Director    58

Jorge Bunster

   9    Director    50

Carlos Croxatto

   17    Director    88

Alberto Etchegaray

   9    Director    54

Felipe Lamarca

   18    Director    52

(1)   Anacleto Angelini is the uncle of Roberto Angelini.

 

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The principal executive officers of Arauco and the General Managers of each area or department of Arauco are listed below.

 

Name


   Years
with
Arauco


       

Position or Area


   Age

Alejandro Pérez

   13         President and Chief Executive Officer    53

Matías Domeyko(1)

   14         Chief Financial Officer    41

Hernán Arriagada

   12         Engineering and Construction Director    55

Franco Bozzalla

   13         Panels Area Managing Director    40

Sergio Desormeaux

     7         Systems Director    51

Jorge Garnham

   26         Woodpulp Area Managing Director    49

Cristián Infante

     8         Alto Paraná Managing Director    36

Charles Kimber

   17         Arauco Wood Products Executive Director    41

Antonio Luque

   11         Sawntimber Area Managing Director    46

Víctor Renner(2)

   15         Valdivia Mill Project Director    56

Alvaro Saavedra

   11         Forestry Area Managing Director    47

(1)   Matías Domeyko worked at Arauco from 1987 to 1994. He rejoined the Company in 1997.
(2)   Between 1992 and 1994, Víctor Renner acted as an independent consultant, with part-time responsibilities.

 

Set forth below is a brief biographical description of each of the directors and executive officers of Arauco.

 

Directors

 

José Tomás Guzmán became a Director on April 30, 1986 and became Chairman of the board of directors on April 18, 1991. He is a partner of the law firm Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla, is a Vice-President of Copec, is Chairman of the board of directors of Forestal Arauco and Cruz del Sur, and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Compañía de Seguros de Vida Cruz del Sur S.A., Alto Paraná, Sigma Servicios Informáticos S.A., Servicios Corporativos Sercor S.A., AntarChile, Corpesca S.A. and Inversiones Siemel S.A. Mr. Guzmán holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Roberto Angelini became a Director on April 30, 1986 and became Vice-Chairman of the board of directors on April 18, 1991. He also serves as a member of the boards of directors of Copec, Forestal Arauco, Compañía de Seguros de Vida Cruz del Sur S.A., Empresa Pesquera Eperva S.A., Corpesca S.A., Astilleros Arica S.A., Cruz del Sur, Inversiones Siemel S.A., AntarChile, Sigma Servicios Informáticos S.A. and Servicios Corporativos Sercor S.A. Mr. Angelini holds a degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Jorge Andueza became a Director on April 11, 1994. He also is the Chief Executive Officer of AntarChile and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Empresa Pesquera Eperva S.A., Corpesca S.A., Cruz del Sur, Compañía de Seguros de Vida Cruz del Sur S.A., Inversiones Siemel S.A., Astilleros Arica S.A., Pesquera Iquique-Guanaye S.A., SouthPacific Korp S.A. and Servicios Corporativos Sercor S.A. Mr. Andueza holds a degree in electronic civil engineering from Federico Santa María Technical University, and a masters’ degree in business administration from Adolfo Ibáñez University.

 

Anacleto Angelini became a Director on April 30, 1986. He is also the President of AntarChile and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Copec and Servicios Corporativos Sercor S.A.

 

Manuel Bezanilla became a Director on April 30, 1986. He is also a partner of the law firm Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla, and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Forestal Arauco, Pesquera Iquique-Guanaye S.A. and Inversiones Siemel S.A. Mr. Bezanilla holds a law degree from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Jorge Bunster became a Director on April 11, 1994. He is also the General Manager of Copec, and serves as a member of the boards of directors of ABC Comercial Ltda., Inversiones Década S.A., Metrogas S.A., Empresa Eléctrica Guacolda S.A. and Sociedad Nacional de Oleoductos Limitada (Sonacol). Mr. Bunster holds a degree in

 

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commercial engineering and economics from the Catholic University of Chile, and a masters’ degree in business administration from Navarra University.

 

Carlos Croxatto became a Director on April 30, 1986. He also serves as a member of the boards of directors of Copec, Forestal Arauco, Alto Paraná and Empresa Pesquera Eperva S.A. Mr. Croxatto holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Chile.

 

Alberto Etchegaray became a Director on April 11, 1994. He is also a partner of Domet Ltda., the Chairman of the board of directors of Invesco Internacional S.A., Telepeajes de Chile S.A. and Habitaria S.A. and serves as a member of the boards of directors of Banco del Desarrollo, Empresas CCT and Compañía de Seguros La Construcción. He was formerly the Chilean Minister of Housing for four years. Mr. Etchegaray holds a degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Felipe Lamarca became a Director on December 19, 1985. He is also the Chairman of Copec and of Pesquera Iquique-Guanaye S.A., Abastecedora de Combustibles S.A., SouthPacific Korp S.A., Inversiones Década S.A., ABC Inversiones S.A., ABC Comercial S.A., Corpesca S.A. and Cia. Minera Can-Can S.A. and Vice-Chairman of Compañía Sudamericana de Vapores S.A. He was formerly the Director of the Chilean Internal Revenue Service. Mr. Lamarca holds a degree in commercial engineering from the Catholic University of Chile, and is licensed in economics and social sciences.

 

Executive Officers

 

Alejandro Pérez is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Arauco. Prior to joining Arauco in 1990, he held the positions of Chief Executive Officer of Soprole S.A. and Chief Executive Officer of Watt’s Alimentos S.A. Mr. Perez holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Chile, and a masters’ degree in economics from the University of Chicago.

 

Matías Domeyko is the Chief Financial Officer of Arauco. He first joined Arauco in 1987 and served as the Finance Manager until 1994. He rejoined Arauco in 1997. He was formerly the Director of Development of Copec. Mr. Domeyko holds a degree in commercial engineering from the University of Chile.

 

Hernán Arriagada is the Engineering and Construction Director. He joined Arauco in 1991. He was previously the Engineering Manager and Engineering and Maintenance Manager of the mills at the Arauco site. Mr. Arriagada holds a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Santiago.

 

Franco Bozzalla is the Panels Area Managing Director of Arauco. He joined Arauco in 1990. He was formerly a sales representative of Forestal Arauco. Mr. Bozzalla holds a degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Sergio Desormeaux is the Systems Director of Arauco. He joined the Company in 1997 at his current position. He was formerly the General Manager of Ingenac S.A. He holds a degree in engineering from the University of Chile.

 

Jorge Garnham is the Woodpulp Area Managing Director of Arauco. He joined Arauco in 1978. He was formerly the Sales Director, Chief Accounting Officer and Manager of Forestry Sales of Arauco and the President of Alto Paraná S.A. Mr. Garnham holds a degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

Cristián Infante is the Managing Director of Alto Paraná S.A. He joined Arauco in 1996 as a woodpulp sales representative for Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., where he worked for two years. In 1998, Mr. Infante was appointed sales manager for industrial lumber and remanufactured products of Forestal Arauco, where he worked until 1999, at which time he moved to Centromaderas S.A., where he worked for two years. Mr. Infante holds a degree in civil engineering from the Catholic University of Chile.

 

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Charles Kimber is the Executive Director of Arauco Wood Products Inc. He graduated from the Catholic University of Chile with a degree in Commercial Engineering, and joined Arauco, where he has held several positions in sales, in 1986.

 

Antonio Luque is the Sawntimber Area Managing Director of Arauco, and has held that position since 1993. Prior to joining Arauco, he was the General Manager of Cabildo S.A. and a research engineer at Compañía Industrial. Mr. Luque holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Chile.

 

Víctor Renner is the Valdivia Mill Project Director. He joined Arauco in 1988. Previously, he was the Director of Renner Ltda. and the Project Manager of Arauco II. Mr. Renner holds a degree in mining and civil engineering from the University of Chile and a Ph.D. from the University of London.

 

Alvaro Saavedra is the Forestry Area Managing Director of Arauco. He joined Arauco in 1991. Previously, he was the Director of Development of Forestal Arauco. He holds a degree in civil engineering from the University of Chile and a MSc from the University of London.

 

Compensation

 

For 2002, the aggregate compensation of all directors and executive officers of Arauco paid or accrued in that year for services in all capacities was approximately U.S.$528.2 thousand. The Company does not maintain any pension or retirement programs or incentive compensation plans for its directors or executive officers. The Company also does not maintain any plans providing for benefits upon termination of employment. The following table sets out the compensation of Arauco’s directors for their services as directors in 2001 and 2002.

 

     2001

   2002

     (in U.S.$)

Roberto Angelini R.

   $ 169,920    $ 144,466

José Tomás Guzmán D.

     140,260      116,376

Carlos Croxatto S.

     76,683      52,465

Alejandro Pérez R.

     70,467      43,958

Manuel Bezanilla U.

     35,734      33,509

Juan Cambiaso P.

     43,263      16,987

Anacleto Angelini F.

     17,867      16,755

Felipe Lamarca C.

     17,867      16,755

Jorge Andueza F.

     17,867      16,755

Jorge Bunster B.

     17,867      16,755

Alberto Etchegaray A.

     17,867      16,755

Eduardo Zañartu B.

     7,445      6,982

Matías Domeyko C.

     7,445      6,982

Jorge Garnham

     5,102      6,982

Antonio Luque

     5,102      6,982

Felipe Léniz M.

     7,445      4,658

Charles Kimber W.

     7,445      4,076

Alvaro Saavedra F.

     —        2,324
    

  

Total compensation

   $ 665,645    $ 528,195
    

  

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2002, Arauco had a total of 3,431 employees, of which 2,575 were employed in Chile and 856 in Argentina by Alto Paraná. Approximately 19.3% of Arauco’s employees were unionized as of December 31, 2002, a decrease from 24.0% as of December 31, 2001. Arauco negotiates collective bargaining

 

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agreements of two or three years’ duration with unionized employees. The Company has had one minor strike in the last five years in Chile (at the Arauco mills) and considers its relations with its employees to be good. Alto Paraná has, from time to time, experienced strikes and work stoppages at the Puerto Esperanza mill. The strikes and work stoppages have not materially affected mill operations, and management currently considers relations with its employees to be satisfactory. The following provides a breakdown of Arauco’s employees by activity.

 

     As of December 31,

     2000

   2001

   2002

Pulp mill employees

   1,281    1,398    1,409

Other industrial employees

   1,140    1,303    1,397

Forestry employees

   460    371    357

Administrative employees

   254    257    268

 

In addition, during 2002, Arauco had contracts with approximately 300 contractors, who employed approximately 10,000 employees. Arauco’s 11 sawmills in Chile are also operated by contractors, which are not related to Arauco or each other.

 

Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions.

 

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS

 

The Company’s only outstanding voting securities are shares of common stock of a single series, without nominal (par) value (the “Common Stock”). The following table sets forth certain information concerning ownership of the Common Stock as of December 31, 2002 with respect to each shareholder known to the Company to own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock and all directors and executive officers of the Company as a group.

 

    

Number of

Shares Owned


  

Percentage

Ownership


 

Copec

   113,127,452    99.98 %

Directors and executive officers of the Company as a group

   —      —    

 

Through its ownership of the Company’s Common Stock, Copec currently has voting control of the Company.

 

Copec is a Chilean public company listed on the Santiago Stock Exchange, the Valparaíso Stock Exchange and the Chilean Electronic Stock Exchange, the principal interests of which are in Arauco, gasoline distribution, retailing, electricity, gas distribution, and fishing. Copec is 60.1% owned by AntarChile.

 

Through its ownership in Copec, AntarChile beneficially owns 60.1% of the shares of the Company.

 

AntarChile is in turn 70.2% beneficially owned by the Angelini Group, a group of investors headed by Mr. Anacleto Angelini. Through their ownership of AntarChile, the Angelini Group beneficially owns 60.1% of the shares of the Company.

 

The Angelini Group is engaged in a wide range of business activities in Chile, including substantial interests in:

 

    gasoline and gas distribution, through Copec, Abastecedora de Combustibles S.A. and Metrogas S.A.;

 

    pulp and forestry products, through the Company;

 

    fisheries, through Corpesca S.A., Pesquera Iquique-Guanaye S.A., SouthPacific Korp S.A. and Empresa Pesquera Eperva S.A.;

 

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    insurance, through Cruz del Sur and Compañía de Seguros de Vida Cruz del Sur S.A.;

 

    investment management, through AntarChile and Inversiones Siemel S.A.;

 

    power generation, through Empresa Eléctrica Guacolda S.A.;

 

    retailing, through ABC Comercial Limitada; and

 

    agriculture, through Agrícola Siemel Limitada.

 

Until August 2000, Copec was 30.05% owned by Inversiones y Desarrollo Los Andes Dos S.A. (“Los Andes II”), a Chilean holding company, and 30.05% owned by AntarChile. Los Andes II was 99.99% owned by Inversiones Socoroma S.A. (“Socoroma”), which in turn was 85.57% owned by AntarChile. On August 31, 2000, Los Andes II and Socoroma were merged into AntarChile. AntarChile thus became the indirect owner of the 60.1% of shares of the Company held by Copec.

 

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

In the ordinary course of its business, Arauco engages in a variety of transactions on an arm’s-length basis with various of its affiliates, primarily for the purchase of goods or services, which goods and services may also be provided by other suppliers. Financial information concerning these transactions is set forth in Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements in Item 18.

 

Among the most significant related party transactions are purchases from Copec, Arauco’s majority shareholder, of fuel for the lime kilns in the pulp mills. Purchases from Copec were U.S.$6.3 million in 2000, U.S.$11.0 million in 2001, and U.S.$12.1 million in 2002. The amount of the outstanding liability to Copec for these purchases rose to a high of U.S.$472,000 on December 31, 2002. The outstanding amount was U.S.$694,000 on March 31, 2003.

 

Arauco made purchases from Puerto de Lirquén S.A., a 20.1% affiliate of Arauco and a supplier of port services, of U.S.$1.9 million in 2000, U.S.$1.6 million in 2001, and U.S.$2.0 million in 2002. The amount of the related liability to Puerto de Lirquén S.A. was U.S.$175,000 on December 31, 2002. The outstanding amount was U.S.$280,000 on March 31, 2003.

 

Arauco made purchases from Compañía Puerto de Coronel S.A., a 50.0% affiliate of Arauco and a supplier of port services of U.S.$1.5 million in 2000, U.S.$2.6 million in 2001, and U.S.$695,000 in 2002. The amount of the outstanding liability to Compañía Puerto de Coronel S.A. rose as high as U.S.$31,000 on December 31, 2002. There was no outstanding amount on March 31, 2003.

 

Arauco obtains insurance from Cruz del Sur, a Chilean insurance company controlled by the Angelini Group and a supplier of all of Arauco’s insurance policies covering its forest holdings and production plants, facilities and equipment. Arauco paid direct insurance premiums of U.S.$3.5 million in 2000, U.S.$7.2 million in 2001, and U.S.$3.0 million in 2002. The amount of the outstanding liability to Cruz del Sur rose as high as U.S.$1.0 million on December 31, 2002. The outstanding receivable from Cruz de Sur in favor of Arauco at March 31, 2003 was U.S.$1.0 million.

 

On June 21, 2001, the Company irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed as primary obligor the issue of U.S.$250,000,000 Floating Rate Trust Notes due 2006 by a financial trustee in the name of Alto Paraná (“APSA Notes”) under Argentine law 24,441, in favor of the holders of the notes and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as financial trustee. The APSA Notes were issued by First Trust of New York, National Association (acting though its Oficina de Representación Permanente en Argentina), not in its individual capacity but solely as financial trustee and on behalf of the financial trust denominated the “Argentine Collateral Trust Notes Due 2006 Financial Trust.” The APSA Notes have a stated maturity of June 13, 2006. The proceeds of the APSA Notes were used by Alto Paraná to redeem certain of its shares of preferred stock and for other general corporate purposes.

 

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During 2000, 2001 and 2002 Arauco paid Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla an aggregate amount of approximately U.S.$230,000, U.S.$695,000, and U.S.$277,000 as payment for legal services.

 

In January 2000 Arauco announced that it intended to acquire substantially all the stock of Cholguán through its subsidiary Forestal Arauco. In March 2000, Forestal Arauco purchased approximately 72.9% of the shares of Cholguán from the Angelini Group. The Angelini Group is also the beneficial owner of 70.2% of the shares of AntarChile, which in turn is the indirect owner of approximately 60.1% of the shares of Arauco. See “—Major Shareholders.” Forestal Arauco paid approximately U.S.$191.0 million for the Cholguán shares.

 

Three members of Arauco’s Board of Directors who are also members of the group of investors which make up the Angelini Group, Anacleto Angelini, Roberto Angelini, and José Tomás Guzmán, were among the investors who sold to Forestal Arauco shares of Cholguán which they beneficially held. Subsequent to the purchase of the shares held by the Angelini Group, Arauco made a tender offer for the remaining shares of Cholguán through Forestal Arauco. Forestal Arauco paid the same price for the shares acquired under the tender offer as for the shares it purchased from the Angelini Group. As of December 31, 2002, the percentage of the shares of Cholguán held by Forestal Arauco was 97.39%. The total cost of the acquisition was approximately U.S.$266.2 million.

 

Article 89 of the Chilean Companies Act requires that the Company’s transactions with related parties be on a market basis or on terms similar to those customarily prevailing in the market. Directors and managers of companies that violate Article 89 are liable for losses and damages resulting from such violation.

 

In addition, Article 44 of the Chilean Companies Act provides that any transaction in which a director has a personal interest or is acting on behalf of a third party which has an interest in the transaction may be approved only when the board of directors has previously been informed of, and has approved, such transaction, and when the terms of such transaction are similar to those prevailing in the market.

 

In cases when the transaction involves material amounts, the board of directors must previously determine whether the terms of such transaction are similar to those prevailing in the market. If the board determines that it is not possible to determine whether the terms of the transaction are similar to those prevailing in the market, the board, with the abstention of the interested director, may approve or reject the transaction, or designate two independent appraisers. Any transaction involving material amounts must be reported to the Superintendencia de Valores y Seguros (the “Chilean Securities Commission”). Moreover, resolutions approving such transactions must be reported to the Company’s shareholders at the next annual shareholders’ meeting.

 

Article 44 presumes that a director has a personal interest in a transaction when the director, his or her spouse, certain relatives, a company in which such director is also a director or in which such director has a minimum direct or indirect ownership interest of at least 10% are involved in such transaction, or the companies in which any of the above mentioned persons is a director, or a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of its paid in capital; or the persons for whom such director acts as a representative. Violation of Article 44 may result in administrative or criminal sanctions and civil liability to shareholders or third parties who suffer losses as a result of such violation, but does not affect the validity of the transaction. The Company believes that it has complied with the requirements of Article 89 and Article 44 in all transactions with related parties.

 

Item 8. Financial Information.

 

See “Item 18—Financial Statements.”

 

EXPORT SALES

 

Export sales constituted approximately 86.4% of Arauco’s sales revenue for the year ended December 31, 2002. Arauco’s total export sales revenue for 2002 was U.S.$1.027 million. See “Item 4. Information on the Company—Description of Business—Domestic and Export Sales.”

 

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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Arauco is subject to certain legal proceedings arising from the ordinary course of its business. Management does not believe that these proceedings are likely to result in a material adverse effect on Arauco’s financial position or results of operations either individually or in the aggregate.

 

DIVIDEND POLICY

 

The Company’s long-standing dividend policy has been to distribute the minimum dividend permitted by Chilean law for sociedades anónimas abiertas (public corporations). Chilean law currently requires that, unless otherwise decided by the unanimous vote of its issued and subscribed shares eligible to vote, public corporations distribute a cash dividend in an amount equal to at least 30% of the corporation’s consolidated net income for each year (on a Chilean GAAP basis), unless and except to the extent the corporation has unabsorbed prior years’ losses. However, on April 25, 2000, the Shareholder’s Meeting approved a change in the dividend policy, pursuant to which the percentage of the cash dividend was raised to 50% of the Company’s consolidated net income for each year (on a Chilean GAAP basis). On April 18, 2002, the Shareholders’ Meeting approved another change in the dividend policy, pursuant to which the percentage of the cash dividend was lowered to 40% of the Company’s consolidated net income for each year (on a Chilean GAAP basis).

 

In accordance with the policy adopted by the Company’s Board of Directors, on November 26, 2002, an interim dividend was approved. This dividend was distributed on December 10, 2002 and was equal to 20% of consolidated net income through September 30, 2002. On April 22, 2003, the Board of Directors approved the final dividend for the fiscal year 2002, which was paid in May 2003. This dividend plus the dividend distributed in December 2002 was equal to 40% of the Company’s consolidated net income for 2002 (on a Chilean GAAP basis). Although the board of directors has no current plans to recommend another change in the Company’s dividend policy, no assurance can be given that such policy will not be changed in the future due to changes in Chilean law, capital requirements, operating results or other factors.

 

Item 9. The Offer and Listing.

 

Neither the Company’s stock nor the Notes are listed on any stock exchange or other regulated market.

 

Trading in the Notes takes place primarily in the over-the-counter market; accordingly, Arauco is unable to obtain reliable information on such trading.

 

Item 10. Additional Information.

 

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS

 

Organization and Register

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. is a sociedad anónima abierta (a public corporation) organized in Chile under the laws of Chile. The Company was registered on August 18, 1971, by resolution 300-S of the Chilean Securities Commission and recorded in the Santiago Commercial Register of 1971 on page 6431 under entry number 2993. Notice was published in the Official Gazette on September 4, 1971.

 

Objects and Purposes

 

The purpose of the Company as stated in its estatutos (by-laws) includes the manufacture of forestry products, the management of forestry lands and other activities which are incidental to the forestry industry generally.

 

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Capital

 

In April 2002, the by-laws were amended such that, effective January 1, 2002, the Company’s capital is denominated in U.S. dollars. The Company and two of its subsidiaries, Aserraderos Arauco and Paneles Arauco, received authorization in March 2002 from the Chilean Internal Tax Service to prepare their financial statements in U.S. dollars beginning January 1, 2002. In January 1, 2003, Arauco’s subsidiaries Forestal Arauco, Bosques Arauco, Forestal Valdivia, Forestal Celco and Cholguán obtained the same permission from the Chilean Tax Service.

 

Directors

 

According to the Company’s by-laws, the board of directors of the Company is composed of nine members elected by a general meeting of the Company’s shareholders. The directors are not required to be shareholders of the Company. The Company’s by-laws state that the amount of compensation to be received by the directors for their duties shall be fixed by the general shareholders’ meeting. Directors may be compensated for any non-directorial services rendered to the Company at levels of compensation comparable with compensation commonly paid for these services and at rates which are compatible with the directors’ compensation fixed by the general shareholders’ meeting. The by-laws also state that the board of directors of Arauco has all of the authorities of administration and disposal that Chilean law or the by-laws do not confer upon the general shareholders’ meeting. The board of directors has the right to act on behalf of the Company without the need for a special power of attorney, even in cases where a power of attorney is required by law. In particular, the by-laws provide that the board of directors is empowered to encumber the Company’s assets, real and personal property with mortgages, easements or pledges regardless of the value of such property or the amount of the respective encumbrances and to borrow money paying interest, with or without a guaranty for the loan.

 

The Company’s by-laws provide that the Company may enter into acts or contracts in which one or more directors are interested only if such director’s interest is made known to the board and these acts or contracts are approved by the board, and when the terms of any such act or contract conform to those prevailing in the market. In addition, board resolutions approving such transactions must be reported at the first general shareholders’ meeting following the approval of the interested director transaction by the chair of such meeting.

 

See also “Item 6. Directors, Senior Management and Employees” for further information about Arauco’s board of directors.

 

Shareholders

 

The share capital of the Company consists of ordinary shares of no par value issued in registered form. Record holders of shares are registered in the Company’s share register. Any transfer of shares must be noted in the Company’s share register.

 

Voting Rights

 

Each share of the Company’s stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote at any meeting of shareholders. Resolutions may be taken upon a vote of an absolute majority of the voting shares present or represented. Any resolution relating to amendments to the Company’s by-laws must be approved by an absolute majority of the voting shares issued. Resolutions with regard to the following matters require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting shares issued:

 

    transformation of the Company, its division or merger with another company;

 

    advanced dissolution of the Company;

 

    change of corporate domicile of the Company;

 

    reduction in the Company’s equity capital;

 

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    approval and appraisal of non-cash capital contributions;

 

    reduction in the number of members of the board of directors;

 

    disposal of the assets and liabilities of the Company or all of the Company’s assets; and

 

    change to the manner in which the Company’s corporate dividends are distributed.

 

According to the Company’s by-laws, holders of the Company’s shares also have the right to vote at the general shareholders’ meeting for the election of directors. Each shareholder or their representative may accumulate their votes in favor of one candidate or distribute them among various candidates. A vote on the election of directors may be omitted if an election is proposed by acclamation and none of the shareholders present or represented opposes the motion. The board of directors may also be dismissed by a regular or special general shareholders’ meeting, though the shareholders may only vote to dismiss the board as a whole.

 

Changes to Shareholders’ Rights

 

In order to change the rights of holders of the Company’s shares or create a new series of Company shares, the Company would have to amend its by-laws. In addition, under Chilean law, any public company wishing to issue a new class of shares must register the new class of shares with the Chilean Securities Commission. Any reduction in the number of the Company’s shares would also require a 2/3 majority vote of all holders of the Company’s shares under Chilean law. In addition, Chilean law requires that public corporations distribute a cash dividend in an amount equal to at least 30% of the corporation’s consolidated net income for each year (on a Chilean GAAP basis) unless otherwise decided by a unanimous vote of the corporation’s issued and subscribed shares eligible to vote. Any changes to the corporation’s dividend policy must be approved by a 2/3 majority of all holders of the corporation’s shares.

 

Shareholders’ Meetings

 

The Company’s by-laws provide that general shareholders’ meetings shall be called by the board of directors of the Company. Notice of general shareholders’ meetings must be made through a prominent notice to be published at least three times on different days in the newspaper of one of the corporate domiciles as determined by a general shareholders’ meeting, or in the absence of such determination, in the Official Gazette.

 

In order to be entitled to participate and vote at any shareholders’ meeting, a shareholder must be registered in the Company’s share register five business days before the meeting date. In addition, shareholders may be represented at general meetings by other persons by proxy. Powers of attorney must be given in writing and must be granted with respect to all of the shares the shareholder is entitled to vote as of the date five days before the general shareholders’ meeting.

 

General shareholders’ meetings may be regular or special meetings. Regular shareholders’ meetings are held once a year within the first four months of the year. Among other things, the regular general shareholders’ meeting is asked to appoint independent external auditors to examine the accounts, inventory, balance sheet and other financial results of the Company. The by-laws provide that the following matters are to be considered at regular shareholders’ meetings:

 

    the review of the Company’s results of operations and external auditors’ reports and the approval or rejection of the annual report, the balance sheet and financial statements of the Company;

 

    the distribution of profits of each financial period and the distribution of the Company’s dividends;

 

    the election or dismissal of the members of the board of directors; and

 

    any matter of corporate interest that is not transacted at a special general shareholders’ meeting.

 

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Special shareholders’ meetings may be held at any time required by corporate needs to consider any matter that the law or the Company’s by-laws require to be considered at a general shareholders’ meeting. The Company’s by-laws require that any matters to be discussed at a special shareholders’ meeting be disclosed in the notice of such meeting. The by-laws require the following matters to be considered at special shareholders’ meetings:

 

    the dissolution of the Company;

 

    the transformation, merger or division of the Company and the amendment of its by-laws;

 

    the issue of bonds or debentures convertible into shares;

 

    the disposal of the fixed assets and liabilities of the Company or of all of the Company’s assets;

 

    the grant of real or personal guarantees to secure obligations of third parties, unless they are affiliated companies, in which case the approval of the board of directors will be sufficient; and

 

    any other matters within the competence of general shareholders’ meetings.

 

Any act of a general shareholders’ meeting relating to the dissolution of the Company, the transformation, merger or division of the Company or the amendment of its by-laws, any disposal of the fixed assets and liabilities of the Company or all of the Company’s assets or the issue of bonds convertible into shares or convertible debentures by the Company must be held before a notary public, who must certify that the minutes of such meeting are the true expression of what occurred and was resolved at the meeting.

 

Allocation of Net Income and Distribution of Dividends

 

The Company’s by-laws provide that the shareholders at a general shareholders’ meeting shall determine the annual distribution of the Company’s net profits for each financial period, within the limitations prescribed by law. The shareholders shall also set the date on which any distribution shall be paid, within the time limits prescribed by law. Chilean law prescribes that distributions shall be paid within 30 days of the general shareholders’ meeting at which such distribution was determined.

 

Regulation of and Restrictions on Foreign Investors

 

There are no limitations on the rights to hold securities, including rights of non-resident or foreign shareholders to hold or exercise voting rights on securities.

 

Disclosure of Shareholder Ownership

 

The Company registers the holdings of its shareholders in its shareholder registry. The Company is required to disclose its shareholder information to the Chilean Securities Commission on a quarterly basis.

 

Rights of Shareholders

 

The Company’s by-laws provide that in the case of a dispute between shareholders or between shareholders and the Company or its management, the parties will submit their dispute to a mixed arbitrator, who may determine the procedural rules to be used in the arbitration, but must issue a final judgment in accordance with Chilean law, which judgment shall not be subject to appeal, subject to limited exceptions. The parties shall appoint the arbitrator by mutual agreement and if no agreement is reached, an arbitrator will be appointed by the civil court system from among present and former associate justices of the Supreme Court of Justice of Chile.

 

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EXCHANGE CONTROLS

 

Chile

 

Prior to 1989, Chilean law permitted the purchase and sale of foreign exchange only in cases explicitly authorized by the Central Bank. Law No. 18,840, Ley Orgánica Constitucional del Banco Central de Chile (the Organic Law of the Central Bank of Chile, or the “Central Bank Act”), enacted in 1989, liberalized the rules that govern the ability to buy and sell foreign exchange. The Central Bank Act empowers the Central Bank to determine which types of foreign exchange operations must be carried out in the Mercado Cambiario Formal (the “Formal Exchange Market”) rather than the Mercado Cambiario Informal (the “Informal Exchange Market”). The Central Bank has ruled that certain foreign exchange transactions (including those attendant to foreign investments) may be effected only in the Formal Exchange Market. The Central Bank may also impose restrictions on foreign exchange operations that are conducted or are required to be conducted in the Formal Exchange Market. These restrictions may include the requirement of prior authorization from the Central Bank, the imposition of reserve requirements, and the limitation of foreign exchange operations that may be conducted by the entities which participate in the Formal Exchange Market.

 

The Formal Exchange Market consists of banks and other entities authorized by the Central Bank to participate in the Formal Exchange Market. Until the end of 1999 a reference exchange rate known as the dólar acuerdo (the “Reference Exchange Rate”) was an important element in the operation of the Formal Exchange Market. The Reference Exchange Rate is determined taking into account a Canasta Referencial de Monedas (a Reference Exchange Basket, or “CRM”). The CRM is made up primarily of U.S. Dollars as well as euros and Japanese Yen. The Central Bank calculates the Reference Exchange Rate daily, taking into consideration internal and external inflation and in accordance with calculations based on a formula which considers, among other factors, variations in parities among the U.S. dollar, the Japanese yen and the euro. Prior to the end of 1999, the Formal Exchange Market functioned on the basis of a foreign exchange band which moved in relation to the Referential Exchange Rate.

 

In September 1999, the Central Bank agreed to suspend its use of the foreign exchange band. Rather, it established that the Central Bank would only intervene in exceptional cases of volatility, through buying or selling foreign exchange. As a result, most operations in the Formal Exchange Market are now made in accordance with the spot exchange rate or, for purposes of closing forward operations, an observed exchange rate. The observed exchange rate, known as the dólar observado (the “Observed Exchange Rate”), is, for any date, the average exchange rate at which transactions are actually carried out in the Formal Exchange Market on the previous day, as certified by the Central Bank on the following business day. The Referential Exchange Rate is still published, but primarily for reference purposes.

 

The Central Bank is also able to buy or sell foreign exchange to banking institutions established in Chile at the price agreed upon by the parties, in accordance with established instructions.

 

Purchases and sales of foreign exchange may be effected outside the Formal Exchange Market through the Informal Exchange Market. There are no limits imposed on the fluctuation of the rate of exchange in the Informal Exchange Market above or below the Observed Exchange Rate. The Company estimates that, since 1991, the year-end rate of exchange for Chilean pesos into dollars on the Informal Exchange Market has fluctuated between approximately 2.0% below and 5.1% above the Observed Exchange Rate. As of December 31, 2002, the rate of exchange for Chilean pesos into U.S. dollars on the Informal Exchange Market was 0.2% over the Observed Exchange Rate.

 

The Central Bank, among other things, is responsible for monetary policies and for exchange controls in Chile. Qualifying Chilean issuers have been authorized to offer bonds in Chile by Chilean Securities Law No. 18,045, and internationally by Chapter XIV of the Compendium of Foreign Exchange Regulations (the “Compendium”).

 

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Bonds Denominated in Currencies other than Chilean Pesos

 

Prior to April 19, 2001, any international issue of bonds was subject to approval by the Central Bank after submission of an application to the Central Bank through a bank or other participant in the Formal Exchange Market. Absent the Central Bank’s authorization, issuers were not able to offer bonds outside of Chile. On April 19, 2001 the Central Bank issued new foreign exchange regulations effective as of March 1, 2002, which were included in the new Chapter XIV of the Compendium, applicable to bond issues made either from Chile or through an agency abroad. It must be noted however, that all debt issues made prior to the new regulations remain subject to the regulations existing at the time of the respective issue.

 

Debt securities issued directly by the Company

 

In accordance with new regulations issued by the Central Bank, which were included in the new Chapter XIV of the Compendium, effective March 1, 2002, any international issue of bonds in an aggregate amount exceeding U.S.$10,000 must be registered and dated by a bank or other entity authorized by the Central Bank to participate in the Formal Exchange Market before the proceeds from the issuance can be remitted to Chile and received by the issuer. The issuer must submit forms regarding the offering to the registering entity or directly to the Central Bank, along with a letter of instructions indicating whether it prefers to receive the proceeds in Chilean pesos or in a foreign currency. The Formal Exchange Market entity must in turn verify that the forms submitted by the issuer are in accordance with the documentation relating to the issue and inform the Central Bank of the operation no later than 11:00 a.m. on the banking business day following the date on which the proceeds of the issue are transferred to the issuer.

 

If the issuer opts to receive the proceeds of the issue outside of Chile, it must report this to the Central Bank directly or through a Formal Exchange Market entity within ten days of the date of receipt of proceeds.

 

Chapter XIV of the Compendium also states that proceeds from the issue, as well as payment of capital and interest relating to the issue must be received and sent from and through the Formal Exchange Market, but purchases of U.S. dollars in connection with payments on debt securities issued directly by the Company can be made either in the Formal or in the Informal Exchange Market. There can be no assurance, however, that the Company will be able to purchase U.S. dollars in the Informal Exchange Market or in the Formal Exchange Market at the time or in the amounts required to pay debt service related to any such debt securities. There can also be no assurance that further Central Bank regulations or legislative changes to the current foreign exchange control regime in Chile would not restrict or prevent the purchase of U.S. dollars by the Company to make payments under the Notes.

 

In the case of debt securities issued directly by the Company prior to the effectiveness of the new regulations, the registration of such issue with the Central Bank grants the Company access to the Formal Exchange Market for the purchase of U.S. dollars necessary to make payments in respect of any such debt securities, but requires that payments on such debt securities shall only be made with U.S. dollars purchased in the Formal Exchange Market.

 

The new regulations of Chapter XIV of the Compendium do not make any reference to the one-year mandatory deposit in the Central Bank that was previously required by the former Chapter XIV. However, the Central Bank is authorized, under the Central Bank Act, to impose such requirement.

 

Debt securities issued through the Company’s Panamanian agency

 

In December 1996, the Company established a registered agency in Panama. The Company may from time to time issue debt securities directly or through its Panamanian agency depending on, among other factors, whether or not the Company expects to bring the proceeds thereof into Chile. In such cases, the proceeds of such issuance of the notes may be brought into Chile or held abroad. In either case, however, in accordance with Chapter VIII of the Compendium, the Company must inform the Central Bank of the issuance of international bonds through its agency within 10 days following the disbursement of funds to the agency, together with the schedule of payments of the notes.

 

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Purchases of U.S. dollars in connection with payments on debt securities issued through its Panamanian agency (whether prior to or after April 19, 2001) can be made either in the Formal or in the Informal Exchange Market. Although the Company would need to inform the Central Bank of the issuance of debt securities through its Panamanian agency, such communication to the Central Bank would not give the Company access to the Formal Exchange Market for the purchase of U.S. dollars necessary to make payments in respect of any such debt securities.

 

There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to purchase U.S. dollars in the Informal Exchange Market or in the Formal Exchange Market at the time or in the amounts required to pay debt service related to any such debt securities. There can also be no assurance that further Central Bank regulations or legislative changes to the current foreign exchange control regime in Chile would not restrict or prevent the purchase of U.S. dollars by the Company to make payments under the Notes from Chile.

 

TAXATION

 

General

 

The following summary contains a description of the principal Chilean and United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of Notes, but it does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase Notes. This summary does not describe any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, locality or taxing jurisdiction other than the United States and Chile.

 

This summary is based on the tax laws of Chile and the United States as in effect on the date of this Form 20-F, as well as regulations, rulings and decisions of Chile and the United States available on or before such date and now in effect. All of the foregoing are subject to change, which change could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.

 

Prospective purchasers of the Notes should consult their own tax advisors as to the Chilean, United States or other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Notes, including, in particular, the application to their particular situations of the tax considerations discussed below, as well as the application of state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

 

There is currently no tax treaty between the United States and Chile.

 

Chilean Taxation

 

The following is a general summary of the principal consequences under Chilean tax law, as currently in effect of an investment in the Notes made by a Foreign Holder. Foreign Holder means either:

 

    in the case of an individual, a person who is neither a resident nor is domiciled in Chile (for purposes of Chilean taxation, an individual holder is resident or domiciled in Chile if it has resided or has been domiciled in Chile for more than six months in one calendar year, or a total of more than six months in two consecutive fiscal years); or

 

    in the case of a legal entity, a legal entity that is not organized under the laws of Chile, unless the Notes are assigned to a branch or a permanent establishment of such entity in Chile.

 

Under Chile’s Income Tax Law, payments of interest made from Chile by the Company in respect of the Notes to a Foreign Holder will generally be subject to a Chilean withholding tax assessed at a rate of 4.0% (the “Chilean Interest Withholding Tax”).

 

The Company has agreed, subject to specific exceptions and limitations, to pay to the Foreign Holders of Notes Additional Amounts in respect of the Chilean Interest Withholding Tax mentioned above in order that the interest the Foreign Holder receives, net of the Chilean Interest Withholding Tax, equals the amount which would have been received by such Foreign Holder in the absence of such withholding. If the Company pays Additional

 

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Amounts in respect of such Chilean Interest Withholding Tax, any refunds of such Additional Amounts will be for the account of the Company. In the event of certain changes in Chilean tax laws requiring the payment by the Company of Additional Amounts in excess of the Additional Amounts that would be payable were payments of interest on the Notes subject to the Chilean Interest Withholding Tax at a 4.0% rate, the Company has the right to redeem the Notes.

 

Under existing Chilean law and regulations, a Foreign Holder will not be subject to any Chilean taxes in respect of payments of principal made by the Company with respect to the Notes. Payments by the Company with respect to the Notes of amounts not considered principal or interest may be subject to a Chilean withholding tax of up to 35%.

 

The Chilean Income Tax Law provides that a Foreign Holder is subject to income tax on his Chilean source income. For this purpose, Chilean source income means earnings from activities performed in Chile or from the sale, disposition or other transactions in connection with assets or goods located in Chile. Therefore, any capital gains realized on the sale or other disposition by a Foreign Holder of the Notes generally will not be subject to any Chilean taxes provided that such sale or other disposition occurs outside Chile.

 

A Foreign Holder will not be liable for estate, gift, inheritance or similar taxes with respect to its holdings unless Notes held by a Foreign Holder

 

    are located in Chile at the time of such Foreign Holder’s death or at the time the transfer takes place, or

 

    were purchased or acquired with monies obtained from Chilean sources.

 

A Foreign Holder will not be liable for Chilean stamp, registration or similar taxes.

 

The issue of the Notes was subject to stamp tax, which was paid by the Company.

 

United States Taxation

 

This summary of certain United States federal income tax considerations deals principally with United States Holders that will hold Notes as capital assets and whose functional currency is the United States dollar. It does not purport to be a comprehensive description of all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular investor’s decision to purchase Notes and generally does not address the tax treatment of United States Holders that may be subject to special tax rules, such as banks, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, traders in securities electing to mark to market, persons that will hold Notes as a position in a “straddle” or conversion transaction, or as part of a “synthetic security” or other integrated financial transaction, persons that own (or are deemed to own for United States tax purposes) 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company, or persons that are not United States Holders; nor does it address the tax treatment of United States Holders that did not acquire Notes as part of the initial distribution. As used under this section “United States Taxation,” the term “United States Holder” means a beneficial owner of a Note that is a citizen or resident of the United States or a United States domestic corporation or that otherwise is subject to United States federal income taxation on a net income basis in respect of the Notes.

 

Taxation of Interest and Additional Amounts

 

A United States Holder will treat the gross amount of interest and Additional Amounts (i.e., without reduction for Chilean Interest Withholding Tax, determined utilizing the 4.0% Chilean Interest Withholding Tax rate applicable to all United States Holders of the Notes) as ordinary interest income in respect of the Notes. Any Chilean Interest Withholding Tax paid will be treated as foreign income taxes eligible for credit against such United States Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, subject to generally applicable limitations and conditions, or, at the election of such United States Holder, for deduction in computing such United States Holder’s taxable income. Interest and Additional Amounts will constitute income from sources outside the United States for foreign tax credit purposes. Such income generally will constitute “passive income” or, in the case of certain United States Holders, “financial services income.” Foreign tax credits may not be allowed for withholding taxes imposed in

 

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respect of arrangements in which a United States Holder’s expected economic profit is insubstantial. United States Holders should consult their own advisers concerning the implications of these rules in light of their particular circumstances.

 

The calculation of foreign tax credits and, in the case of a United States Holder that elects to deduct foreign taxes, the availability of deductions, involves the application of rules that depend on a United States Holder’s particular circumstances. United States Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the availability of foreign tax credits and the treatment of Additional Amounts.

 

A Holder of Notes that is, with respect to the United States, a foreign corporation or a nonresident alien individual (a “Non-U.S. Holder”) generally will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on interest income or Additional Amounts earned in respect of Notes, unless such income is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States.

 

Taxation of Dispositions

 

Gain or loss realized by a United States Holder on the sale, redemption or other disposition of Notes generally will be treated as capital gain or loss and such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of the disposition, the Notes have been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gain realized by a United States Holder that is an individual generally is subject to a maximum rate of 15% through December 31, 2008. Gain, if any, realized by a United States Holder generally will be treated as U.S. source income for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

 

A Non-U.S. Holder of Notes will not be subject to United States federal income or withholding tax on gain realized on the sale or other disposition of Notes unless (i) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States or (ii) in the case of gain realized by an individual Non-U.S. Holder, the Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale and certain other conditions are met.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes, and payment of the proceeds of any disposition of the Notes, made to certain United States Holders may be subject to U.S. information reporting requirements. In addition, certain United States Holders may be subject to a U.S. backup withholding tax in respect of such payments if they do not provide their taxpayer identification numbers to the payor or otherwise establish an exemption. Non-U.S. Holders generally are exempt from these withholding and reporting requirements, but may be required to comply with applicable certification and identification procedures in order to establish their eligibility for such an exemption.

 

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

 

The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In accordance with these requirements, the Company files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These materials, including this Annual Report and the exhibits thereto, may be inspected and copied at the Commission’s Public Reference Room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of the materials may be obtained from the Public Reference Room at the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Commission’s Public Reference Room by calling the Commission in the United States at 1-800-SEC-0330.

 

Item 11. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The following discussion about Arauco’s risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in such forward-looking statements.

 

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Arauco is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and currency exchange rates. Arauco from time to time assesses its exposure and monitors opportunities to manage these risks, including entering into derivative contracts. On May 8, 2002, Arauco entered into a swap contract in which U.S.$200 million of the 7.75% Notes were swapped for notes bearing an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.79875%. On May 23, 2003, Arauco entered into a new swap contract in which the U.S.$200 million of the notes bearing an interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.79875% were swapped for notes bearing a fixed interest rate of 5.506%.

 

In the normal course of business, Arauco also faces risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable. Such risks principally include country risk, credit risk and legal risk and are not represented in the tables below.

 

INTEREST RATE RISK

 

Interest rate risk exists principally with respect to Arauco’s indebtedness that bears interest at floating rates. At December 31, 2002, Arauco had outstanding approximately U.S.$1,530.7 million of indebtedness, of which approximately 81.0% bore interest at fixed interest rates and approximately 19.0% bore interest at floating rates of interest. Approximately 0.2% of the indebtedness was denominated in UF as of that date. The interest rate on Arauco’s variable rate debt is determined by reference to LIBOR. Arauco’s UF-denominated indebtedness bears interest at a fixed rate, although the amount of the borrowing is periodically revalued in accordance with Chilean inflation.

 

The following table summarizes the long-term debt obligations, including 2003 maturities, held by Arauco at December 31, 2002 that are sensitive to changes in interest rates. The table presents the aggregate principal amount of each category of indebtedness maturing in each year, at the weighted average interest rate for each category of indebtedness. Average interest rates for liabilities are calculated based on the prevailing interest rate at December 31, 2002, for each loan.

 

     As of December 31, 2002

   Total Long
Term Debt
(incl. 2003
maturities)


   Fair
Value(1)


     Expected contractual maturity date

     
    

Average

Interest
Rate(2)


    2003

   2004

   2005

   2006

   2007

   There-
after


     
     (U.S.$ equivalent in millions)     

Long-Term Interest Bearing Debt:

                                             

Fixed Rate
(Ch$-denominated)

   6.00 %   2.6    —      —      —      —      —      2.6    2.7

Variable Rate
(Ch$-denominated)

   —       —      —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

Fixed Rate (3)
(U.S.$-denominated)

   7.63 %   80.2    —      175.0    —      100.0    882.5    1,237.7    1,378.6

Variable Rate
(U.S.$-denominated)

   LIBOR + 0.68 %   38.1    100.3    100.4    50.0    1.0    0.6    290.4    290.4

Other currencies

   —       —      —      —      —      —      —      —      —  

(1)   These figures were calculated based on the discounted value of future cash flows expected to be received or paid, considering current discount rates that reflect the different risks involved. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.
(2)   Average interest rate means, for variable rate debt, the weighted average prevailing interest rate at December 31, 2002, on Arauco’s variable rate debt, and for fixed rate debt, the weighted average prevailing interest rate at December 31, 2002, on Arauco’s fixed rate debt.
(3)   Includes the U.S.$200 million of the 2011 Notes swapped on May 8, 2002.

 

FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK

 

Arauco’s principal exchange rate risk involves changes in the value of the Chilean peso relative to the dollar. Arauco generally believes that its foreign currency exposure is not material to its net income due to its dollar-denominated or indexed sales. In 2002, substantially all of Arauco’s consolidated revenues were denominated in or indexed to foreign currencies. Arauco estimates that a majority of its consolidated costs and expenses are denominated in dollars. As of December 31, 2002:

 

    a significant portion of Arauco’s accounts receivable were denominated in U.S. dollars;

 

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    47.7% of Arauco’s short-term investments were denominated in euros and 8.9% were denominated in pesos, with the balance of 43.4% in U.S. dollars;

 

    substantially all of Arauco’s indebtedness was denominated in U.S. dollars; and

 

    a significant portion of Arauco’s consolidated total assets were denominated in U.S. dollars, with the balance primarily denominated in Chilean pesos.

 

Substantially all of Arauco’s foreign currency-denominated revenues, costs and expenses, receivables and indebtedness are denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2002, only 0.2% of Arauco’s long-term debt was Chilean peso-denominated, with the balance in U.S. dollars. Accordingly, variations in the value of the Chilean peso relative to the dollar will not have a significant effect in the cost in dollars of Arauco’s foreign debt service obligations.

 

Item 12. Description of Securities Other Than Equity Securities.

 

Not applicable.

 

PART II

 

Item 13. Defaults, Dividend Arrearages and Delinquencies.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 14. Material Modifications to the Rights of Security Holders and the Use of Proceeds.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 15. Controls and Procedures.

 

Within the 90 days prior to the date of this annual report, the Company carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a and 15d-15(c) under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or “Exchange Act”). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based upon and as of the date of the Company’s evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported as and when required.

 

There were no significant changes in Arauco’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect these controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation. There were no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, and therefore there were no corrective actions taken.

 

Item 16. [Reserved].

 

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PART III

 

Item 17. Financial Statements.

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 18. Financial Statements.

 

See pages A/F-1 through A/F-27, incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 19. Exhibits

 

a. List of Financial Statements

 

     Page

Report of Independent Accountants

   A/F-1

Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2001 and 2002

   A/F-2

Consolidated Statements of Income for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

   A/F-4

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

   A/F-5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

   A/F-6

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for the Years Ended December 31, 2000, 2001 and 2002

   A/F-7

 

b. List of Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description


Exhibit 1.1

   English translation of the by-laws (estatutos) of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., dated as of April 29, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Annual Report of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. on Form 20-F filed on June 26, 2002)

Exhibit 8.1

   List of subsidiaries

Exhibit 10.1

   Certification of Alejandro Pérez and Matías Domeyko pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 12.1

   Letter from Celulosa Arauco y Constitución to the SEC regarding Langton Clarke Auditores Consultores Ltda. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Annual Report of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. on Form 20-F filed on June 26, 2002)

Exhibit 12.2

   Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated financial statements

 

December 31, 2002

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOGO

 

 


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Accountants

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.:

 

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of income, of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2002 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management; our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

 

/s/    PricewaterhouseCoopers                        

 

Santiago, Chile

March 7, 2003

 

A/F-1


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     At December 31,

     2002

   2001

     (US $ in thousands)

ASSETS

             

CURRENT ASSETS:

             

Cash and cash equivalents 1d)

   $ 49,147    $ 22,424

Short-term investments 1e)

     350,283      420,425

Trade receivables—net

     186,783      210,529

Other receivables—net

     72,574      67,610

Inventories 1f), (3)

     203,089      193,563

Prepaid expenses and other current assets (4)

     121,607      61,299
    

  

Total current assets

     983,483      975,850
    

  

LONG-TERM ASSETS:

             

Forest 1g)

     1,188,013      1,167,462

Property, plant and equipment—net 1h), (5)

     1,851,240      1,653,466

Investments in affiliates

     20,768      18,078

Goodwill, net of amortization 1n)

     23,668      19,791

Other long-term assets

     43,164      64,610
    

  

Total long-term assets

     3,126,853      2,923,407
    

  

Total assets

   $ 4,110,336    $ 3,899,257
    

  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

A/F-2


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     At December 31,

     2002

   2001

     (US $ in thousands)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

             

Short-term debt

   $ 32,125    $ 87

Current portion of long-term notes

     38,057      38,729

Current portion of bonds

     82,793      4,253

Accounts payable (6)

     162,397      103,483

Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities (7)

     61,092      59,929
    

  

Total current liabilities

     376,464      206,481
    

  

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

             

Long-term notes (8)

     252,363      289,670

Long-term bonds (8)

     1,157,500      1,282,963

Deferred income taxes (9)

     150,214      117,242

Other long-term liabilities

     10,003      21,865
    

  

Total long-term liabilities

     1,570,080      1,711,740
    

  

MINORITY INTEREST

     6,127      6,251
    

  

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

             

Common stock (nominal par value, 113,152,446 shares authorized and issued)

     —        —  

Paid-in capital

     363,833      363,833

Retained earnings

     1,793,832      1,610,952
    

  

Total stockholders’ equity

     2,157,665      1,974,785
    

  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 4,110,336    $ 3,899,257
    

  

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

A/F-3


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (US $ in thousands)  

Net sales (13)

   1,188,018     1,173,826     1,260,342  

Operating costs and expenses:

                  

Cost of sales

   (620,464 )   (689,837 )   (604,130 )

Depreciation (13)

   (103,885 )   (119,796 )   (106,576 )

Selling and administrative

   (100,515 )   (94,047 )   (102,701 )
    

 

 

Total operating costs and expenses

   (824,864 )   (903,680 )   (813,407 )
    

 

 

Income from operations

   363,154     270,146     446,935  
    

 

 

Non-operating income (expense):

                  

Interest income

   21,995     14,794     12,563  

Other income (expense)

   1,513     (3,871 )   5,151  

Foreign exchange gains (losses)

   11,668     (26,058 )   (5,070 )

Interest expense

   (61,692 )   (62,362 )   (62,201 )
    

 

 

Total non-operating income (expense)

   (26,516 )   (77,497 )   (49,557 )
    

 

 

Income before taxes, minority interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   336,638     192,649     397,378  

Provision for income taxes (9)

   (52,578 )   (12,956 )   (55,552 )

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

   (267 )   (225 )   (2,051 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   2,558     1,463     1,377  
    

 

 

Net income

   286,351     180,931     341,152  
    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

A/F-4


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (US $ in thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                  

Net income

   286,351     180,931     341,152  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                  

Depreciation and amortization

   107,453     123,409     108,817  

Minority interest in net income of consolidated subsidiaries

   267     225     2,051  

Earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   (2,558 )   (1,463 )   (1,377 )

Deferred income taxes

   12,243     2,222     18,751  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   1,117     728     758  

(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets

   (446 )   (1,622 )   1,029  

Investments and proceeds in trading securities

   70,142     (267,090 )   (6,995 )

Decrease (increase) in receivables

   17,665     (40,832 )   29,284  

Decrease (increase) in inventories

   (9,526 )   32,821     (68,702 )

Decrease (increase) in other assets

   (37,841 )   (17,822 )   (16,014 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

   27,145     (41,068 )   308  

Increase (decrease) other liabilities

   9,639     (26,131 )   8,291  
    

 

 

Net cash provided by operating (used in) activities

   481,651     (55,692 )   417,353  
    

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                  

Additions to property, plant and equipment and forest

   (324,354 )   (226,277 )   (200,072 )

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

   2,590     4,862     2,097  

Investment in related companies

   (9,400 )   (3,219 )   (208,057 )

Dividends received from related companies

   802     480     690  
    

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

   (330,362 )   (224,154 )   (405,342 )
    

 

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                  

Bonds issued

   —       400,000     300,000  

Bank borrowings

   34,522     315,787     289,177  

Debt issue costs

   —       (7,770 )   (5,830 )

Payment of notes and bond principal

   (87,386 )   (401,954 )   (355,726 )

Dividends paid

   (71,702 )   (67,610 )   (193,353 )
    

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   (124,566 )   238,453     34,268  
    

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   26,723     (41,393 )   46,279  

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   22,424     63,817     17,538  
    

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   49,147     22,424     63,817  
    

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

A/F-5


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity

 

     Year Ended December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (Dollar and Share Amounts in Thousands,
Except Per Share Amounts)
 

Common Stock

   —       —       —    

Nominal par value (113,152, 446 shares authorized and issued at December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000)

                  

Paid in capital

                  

Balance at beginning of year

   363,833     363,833     363,833  

Balance at end of year

   363,833     363,833     363,833  
    

 

 

Retained earnings

                  

Balance at beginning of year

   1,610,952     1,468,275     1,343,597  

Net income

   286,351     180,931     341,152  

Dividends

   (103,471 )   (38,254 )   (216,474 )
    

 

 

Balance at end of year

   1,793,832     1,610,952     1,468,275  
    

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

   2,157,665     1,974,785     1,832,108  
    

 

 

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

A/F-6


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 1—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

a)   Nature of operations

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., a Chilean corporation (“the Company”), and its subsidiaries (the Company, together with its subsidiaries, “Arauco”) are principally engaged in the production of pulp, forestry and wood products, and the management of their forestry assets. Arauco owns and operates facilities in Chile, Argentina and Uruguay and has customers throughout the world including Asia, Europe, North America and Central and South America.

 

b)   Use of estimates in the preparation of financial statements

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; recoverable forest; allowance for doubtful accounts; inventories and deferred income tax assets. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

c)   Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all majority owned subsidiaries in which the Company has voting control. Inter-company transactions and accounts are eliminated in consolidation. Investments in affiliates, owned 20% to 50% inclusive, are accounted for under the equity method. The Company’s share of earnings of such investments is shown in the income statement under the heading “Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates”.

 

d)   Cash and cash equivalents

 

Arauco considers all highly liquid securities with maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Arauco invests its excess cash in short-term time deposits with high quality financial institutions. These time deposits are included in cash and cash equivalents at fair value. Arauco generally holds these cash investments until maturity and is therefore not subject to significant market risk. The Company holds accounts with a variety of banks and does not hold significant deposits with any single bank.

 

e)   Short-term investments

 

Arauco’s short-term investments consist primarily of investments in mutual fund units which are classified as trading securities. These short-term investments are recorded at fair value with unrealized holding gains and losses included in earnings. Net unrealized holding gains and losses at period end included in interest income for 2002 and 2001 were $8.0 million and $2.1 million, respectively.

 

A/F-7


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

f)   Inventories

 

Inventories of raw materials, work-in-process and spare parts are stated at the lower of cost or market, primarily using the average cost method. Finished goods are stated at the lower of average production costs for the period, or market. Inventory costs include materials, labor, transportation, depreciation of fixed assets and production overhead as appropriate.

 

g)   Forests

 

Forests are stated at cost of development less the cost of forest harvested. Forest costs consist primarily of purchased timber, planting, maintenance, protection, and other direct costs related to the plantation of the forest. Direct and indirect interest costs of developing forests are capitalized until the forest is deemed to have reached an exploitable stage. These capitalized interest costs are included in the historical cost of the forest. Forests do not include any estimated future reforestation costs. The cost of forest harvested is based on the volume of forest harvested in relation to the estimated volume of forest recoverable. Arauco’s estimated volume of forest recoverable is based on statistical information and data obtained from physical measurements and other information gathering techniques.

 

h)   Property, plant and equipment

 

Property, plant, and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation of buildings, equipment, and other depreciable assets is primarily determined using the straight-line method. Expenditures that substantially improve and/or increase the useful life of facilities or equipment are capitalized. Interest costs associated with financing the construction of property, plant and equipment is capitalized. Maintenance and repair costs are expensed as incurred. Profits and losses on the sale of property, plant and equipment are accounted for as the difference between the book value and the consideration received.

 

i)   Asset impairments

 

Arauco reviews for impairment of long-lived assets when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. Losses are recognized when the book values exceed expected undiscounted future net cash flows from the use and eventual disposition of the asset. These undiscounted cash flows are based upon management’s estimate of future cash inflows and outflows. The key assumptions in estimating these cash flows are future pricing of forest and future estimates of expenses to be incurred. When impairment is indicated, the book values of the assets are written down to their estimated fair value.

 

j)   Income taxes

 

Arauco uses the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, the provision for income taxes includes amounts currently payable and amounts deferred as tax assets and liabilities, based on differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of existing assets and liabilities, and is measured using the enacted tax rates that are assumed will be in effect when the differences reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance which is established when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

 

A/F-8


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

k)   Derivative financial instruments

 

To cover risk of exposure to interest rate differences, Arauco utilizes interest rate swap derivative financial instruments. It has established procedures for risk assessment and approving, reporting and monitoring of derivative financial instrument activities. Contracts are recorded on the balance sheet and measured at fair value. The interest differential paid or received is recognized in interest expense in the period incurred. Arauco does not use hedge accounting treatment or utilize financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

 

l)   Trade allowance for doubtful accounts

 

Arauco provides an allowance for doubtful accounts based on a review of the specific receivables. As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, no single customer accounted for more than 10% of the outstanding balance of accounts receivable. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the balance in the allowance account for trade receivables was $2.7 million and $1.6 million, respectively.

 

m)   Currency translation

 

The functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The Company has subsidiaries that maintain their records in local currencies. Because the US dollar is the reporting currency, subsidiaries remeasure their financial statements into U.S. dollars using the historical exchange rates for non-monetary assets and liabilities and shareholders’ equity accounts. For monetary assets and liabilities the year-end exchange rate prevailing on December 31 of each year is used. The income statement amounts are re-measured into US dollars at a weighted average exchange rate for the year. Re-measurement gains or losses are recorded in foreign exchange gains (losses) in the income statement.

 

n)   Goodwill

 

Goodwill is the excess of acquisition cost of a business over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill and other intangible assets are deemed to have an indefinite life and not amortized. However, these indefinite life assets are tested for impairment on an annual basis and when indicators of impairment are determined to exist by applying a fair-value based test. At December 31, 2002 and 2001, the balance of accumulated amortization of goodwill was $23.6 million and $19.7 million, respectively.

 

o)   Revenue recognition

 

Revenues are recorded at the time of shipment of products to the customer. Revenue from inter-segment sales is recorded when the forest is harvested and sold; such inter-segment sales, which are generally made at prices that approximate market, are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements. The following criteria must be met in order to recognize revenue: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and (4) collection is reasonably assured.

 

 

A/F-9


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

p)   Short-term debt

 

Short-term debt is shown at face value plus interest and represents a short-term loan from J.P. Morgan bank obtained in October 2002. Interest is payable monthly at an annual rate of LIBOR plus 0.125% and the loan renews automatically each month.

 

q)   Bonds

 

Bonds are shown at face value plus accrued interest. The discount on, and expenses incurred in, the issue of the bonds are shown under other current and long- term assets and are amortized using the interest method of amortization over the term of the instruments. Total capitalized costs associated with bonds were $17.5 million and $21.1 million at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

 

r)   Research and development expenses

 

The cost of research, project development and special studies are charged to income in the year in which they are incurred. The cost of research and development charged to income was $1.6 million, $1.5 million and $2.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000 respectively.

 

s)   Software

 

External direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining internal use computer software are capitalized. Payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time to the internal use computer software project and interest costs incurred while developing internal use computer software are capitalized. Maintenance, training, data conversion and reengineering costs are charged to the results of operations as incurred. Purchased software is capitalized and amortized over the estimated useful life up to a maximum of three years. Capitalized software assets are classified in “Property, plant and equipment” and as “other long-term assets”.

 

t)   Severance benefit plan

 

Arauco sponsors a retirement plan that covers certain employees. It has recorded a liability for long-term severance indemnities based on agreements it has entered into with its employees at certain of its companies in Chile. Generally, upon leaving Arauco, employees who have completed five years of service are entitled to one month’s salary for each year of service, up to the retirement age of 60 and 65 years for women and men, respectively. In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) 88-1, Arauco records the undiscounted obligation for this plan as if it was payable at each balance sheet date. Severance expense for this plan was $1.3 million, $1.3 million and $8.9 million, for fiscal 2002, 2001 and 2000 respectively. The severance liability is recorded in other long-term and current liabilities and amounted to $13.7 million and $13.4 million, at December 31, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

 

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

u)   Acquisitions

 

In 2000 the Company acquired 97.5% of the outstanding shares of Forestal Cholguan S.A. The total cost of the acquisition was approximately $266.2 million. Approximately 85.8% of these shares were acquired from indirect controlling shareholders of the Company. The shares acquired from indirect controlling interest were considered to be an exchange of ownership interests between companies under common control. As such, assets and liabilities of Forestal Cholguan S.A. were incorporated in the consolidated financial statements of the Company at historical value. The difference between the purchase price paid by the Company and 85.8% of the book value of Forestal Cholguan S.A. was recorded as dividend paid to shareholders` in the consolidated shareholders`equity. For the remaining shares acquired from unrelated parties, the purchase price was first allocated to deferred tax assets and liabilities that were recorded upon acquisition. The remaining difference was recorded as a lower basis in forests, building and equipment, resulting in lower depreciation and cost of sales in subsequent years.

 

On March 31, 2000, a subsidiary of the Company acquired the remaining 50% of the outstanding shares of Trupan. S.A. for $37.0 million. The consideration paid was assigned to the tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed on the basis of their fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the cost over the fair value of net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill.

 

v)   Prospective accounting pronouncements

 

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. SFAS No. 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the entity either settles the obligation for the amount recorded or incurs a gain or loss. SFAS No. 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. Although Arauco is evaluating the effects of this Statement on its financial position and results of operations, management does not believe that the adoption of this Statement will have a material impact on the results of its operations.

 

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (SFAS 146). This statement supercedes EITF Issue No. 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF 94-3, a liability is recognized at the date an entity commits to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. The provisions of SFAS 146 will be effective for any exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Arauco is evaluating the effect of this statement on its financial position and results of operations. However, it does not expect the adoption will have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (“FIN 45”). FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued. Initial recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 45 are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified. Arauco is evaluating the impact of the new interpretation. However, the adoption of FIN 45 is not expected to have a material impact on the Arauco’s results of operations or financial position.

 

In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 requires that companies that control another entity through interests other than voting interests should consolidate the controlled entity. FIN 46 applies to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. The related disclosure requirements are effective immediately. Arauco has evaluated the impact of the new interpretation and the adoption will not have a material impact on its results of operations or financial position.

 

Effective January 1, 2003, Arauco implemented FAS No. 145, “Rescission of FAS Nos. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FAS 13, and Technical Corrections”, under which gains and losses from extinguishment of debt should be classified as extraordinary items only if they meet criteria outlined in Accounting Principles Bulletin No. 30. Under FAS No. 145 Arauco has recorded losses on the early extinguishment of debt in earnings from continuing operations in the Company’s statements of earnings.

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 2—OTHER RECEIVABLES—NET

 

     December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

 
     ThUS$     ThUS$  

Value added tax receivable

   56,309     60,373  

Related party receivables

   —       710  

Other receivables

   17,781     8,420  

Allowance

   (1,516 )   (1,893 )
    

 

Total other receivables—net

   72,574     67,610  
    

 

 

NOTE 3—INVENTORIES

 

Inventories have been valued in accordance with the policy described in note 1 (f). The principal components were as follows:

 

     December 31,

     2002

   2001

     ThUS$    ThUS$

Finished goods

   133,687    127,616

Work in progress

   2,609    2,420

Sawlogs, pulpwood and chips

   10,950    13,356

Raw materials

   44,623    39,545

Other parts and materials

   11,220    10,626
    
  

Total inventories

   203,089    193,563
    
  

 

NOTE 4—PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

 

     December 31,

     2002

   2001

     ThUS$    ThUS$

Prepaid freight and other expenses

   28,396    31,801

Deferred tax assets

   25,447    4,718

Deposits

   32,046    —  

Supplies non-production

   16,964    17,845

Other current assets

   18,754    6,935
    
  

Total prepaid expenses and other current assets

   121,607    61,299
    
  

 

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 5—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT—NET

 

          December 31,

 
     Useful lives

   2002

    2001

 
          ThUS$     ThUS$  

Land and improvements

   —      367,674     361,317  

Buildings and improvements

   27 years    1,238,483     1,060,065  

Machinery and equipment

   11 years    1,211,599     1,299,843  

Construction in progress

   —      331,294     132,332  

Other

   3 years    145,325     137,053  
         

 

          3,294,375     2,990,610  

Accumulated depreciation

        (1,443,135 )   (1,337,144 )
         

 

Total property, plant and equipment—net

        1,851,240     1,653,466  
         

 

 

NOTE 6—ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

 

     December 31,

     2002

   2001

     ThUS$    ThUS$

Accounts payable—trade

   76,514    68,104

Dividends payable

   66,119    34,698

Accounts payable—related parties

   1,935    681

Income tax payable

   17,829    —  
    
  

Total accounts payable

   162,397    103,483
    
  

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 7—ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

     December 31,

     2002

   2001

     ThUS$    ThUS$

Accrued interest

   30,498    28,062

Other accruals

   24,553    25,209

Withholding taxes

   4,930    5,356

Deferred income

   1,111    1,302
    
  

Total accrued liabilities and other current liabilities

   61,092    59,929
    
  

 

NOTE 8—LONG-TERM NOTES

 

     Interest Rate
at December
31, 2002


   December 31,

 

Long-term debt


      2002

    2001

 
     %    ThUS$     ThUS$  

Notes payable:

                 

Morgan Guarantee Trust Company (due 2003)

   LIBOR +   0.35    37,500     75,000  

J.P. Morgan Chase (due 2006)

   LIBOR + 0.725    250,000     250,928  

Note payable—Argentina (due in 2008)

   LIBOR + 0.625    2,920     2,471  
         

 

Total notes payable

        290,420     328,399  

Less: current portion

        (38,057 )   (38,729 )
         

 

Total long-term notes

        252,363     289,670  
         

 

 

The Company obtained a $150 million note from Morgan Guarantee Trust Company on March 14, 1997. The funds were used to repay outstanding debt. At December the loan principal is payable in four annual payments which began on March 20, 2000. Interest is due quarterly during the year. In accordance with the loan, the Company must maintain a minimum interest coverage ratio of 1.2:1 (on a rolling four-quarter basis) and maintain a minimum consolidated net worth of at least 49,244,361 Unidades de Fomento. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2002.

 

Through the subsidiary, Alto Paraná S.A., Arauco obtained a $250 million note from J.P. Morgan Chase on June 13, 2001. The loan principal and interest is payable semi-annually. The Company has guaranteed repayment of the loan.

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Arauco has a note payable to the Argentine Tesoro Nacional. The loan was initially obtained by Alto Paraná, a subsidiary of the Company acquired in 1997. The principal amount of the initial loan was $13 million, payable to Banco Nacional de Desarrollo and was guaranteed by the Argentine government. The loan was refinanced when Banco Nacional de Desarrollo was taken over by the Argentine government. The note is due in annual installments with final payment due in 2008. Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

The six-month LIBOR at December 31, 2002 and 2001 was 1.38% and 1.96%, respectively.

 

Long-term bonds


  

Annual
Interest Rate
at December

31, 2002


    Outstanding
Principal Amount at
December 31,


 
       2002

    2001

 
           ThUS$     ThUS$  

Bonds:

                  

Domestic issue Series A bond due February 2003

   6.00  %   1,413     4,518  

Domestic issue Series A bond due December 2003

   6.00  %   874     1,863  

Domestic issue Series B bond due December 2003

   6.00  %   291     620  

US $ bonds (1st issue) due December 2003

   6.75  %   80,215     80,215  

US $ bonds (1st issue) due December 2007

   7.00  %   100,000     100,000  

US $ bonds (2nd issue) due September 2005

   6.95  %   175,000     175,000  

US $ bonds (2nd issue) due September 2009

   7.20  %   100,000     100,000  

US $ bonds (2nd issue) due September 2017

   7.50  %   125,000     125,000  

US $ bonds (3rd issue) due August 2010

   8.62  %   270,500     300,000  

US $ bonds (4th issue) due September 2011

   7.75  %   387,000     400,000  
          

 

Total bonds

         1,240,293     1,287,216  

Less current maturities of long-term bonds

         (82,793 )   (4,253 )
          

 

Total long-term bonds

         1,157,500     1,282,963  
          

 

 

In September 2001, the Company issued $400 million of 10-year bonds at 7.75% (4th issue). The interest on these bonds is payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

In August 2000, the Company issued $300 million of 10-year bonds at 8.62% (3rd issue). The interest on these bonds is payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

In October 1997, the Company issued $175 million of 8-year bonds, at 6.95%, $100 million of 12-year bonds at 7.2% and $125 million of 20 year-bonds at 7.5% (2nd issue). The interest on these bonds is payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

In December 1995, the Company issued $200 million of 8-year bonds at 6.75% and $100 million of 12-year bonds at 7.0% (1st issue). The interest on these bonds is payable semi-annually in arrears.

 

A/F-16


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

In 1991 the Company issued bonds in the Chilean market. These bonds mature between 1994 and 2003, and the interest rate is 6% per annum. Both principal and interest is paid semi-annually in arrears. In accordance with these bonds, the Company’s debt to equity ratio must not exceed the ratio of 1.2:1 and its current liabilities must not exceed current assets. The Company was in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2002.

 

In the period between October 2002 and December 2002, the Company repurchased and retired approximately $42.5 million of its 7.75% and 8.62% bonds due in 2011 and 2010, respectively. The bonds were obtained at a premium, resulting in a loss of $3,006 thousand, net of income taxes. The loss includes the write-off of unamortized capitalized issuance costs associated with these bonds of $916 thousand. In September 2001 the Company repurchased and retired $119.8 million of its 6.75% bonds due in 2003. The bonds were obtained at a premium, resulting in a loss of $3.9 million, net of income taxes. The loss includes the write-off of unamortized capitalized bond issuance costs of $967 thousand.

 

The Company entered into a rate swap agreement in May 2002 with Dresdner Bank A.G. The notional amount of the contract was $200 million. The Company swapped its fixed interest rate for variable interest. Under the terms of the contract, the Company pays variable interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.79875% and receives interest at a rate equal to 7.75%. This is the rate equal to the 4th bond issue. The interest rate swap settles semi-annually, and the contract terminates in 2011.

 

The weighted average interest rate for all long-term debt at December 31, 2002 and 2001 was approximately 7.43% and 7.73% respectively. Required repayment of principal for long-term debt is as follows:

 

     Year Ended
December 31
ThUS $


2003

   120,850

2004

   100,343

2005

   275,414

2006

   51,049

2007

   100,000

2008 and after

   883,057
    

Total

   1,530,713
    

 

Cash paid during 2002, 2001 and 2000 for interest was $113.2 million, $101.3 million and $86.3 million. The total amount of interest cost incurred by Arauco was $115.7 million (net of $4.0 million related to interest rate swaps), $108.4 million, and $96.4 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001, and 2000, respectively. The amount of interest capitalized for these periods was $54.0 million, $46.1 million, and $34.2 million, respectively.

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 9—INCOME TAXES

 

Income (loss) before taxes was taxed in domestic and foreign jurisdictions, as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2002

    2001

    2000

     ThUS$     ThUS$     ThUS$

Domestic

                

Current

   40,335     10,653     29,209

Deferred

   16,257     24,534     17,880

Foreign

                

Current

   —       81     7,592

Deferred

   (4,014 )   (22,312 )   871
    

 

 

Total provision for income taxes

   52,578     12,956     55,552
    

 

 

 

The tax effects of significant temporary differences creating deferred tax assets and liabilities at December 31 were as follow:

 

     December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

 
     ThUS$     ThUS$  

Deferred income tax liabilities

            

Inventories

   (11,151 )   (9,299 )

Other

   (1,162 )   (1,643 )

Property, plant and equipment

   (162,694 )   (184,110 )

Debt issue costs

   (4,478 )   (6,378 )
    

 

Total deferred tax liabilities

   (179,485 )   (201,430 )

Deferred income tax asset

            

Accruals

   32,744     97,911  

Tax loss carry forwards

   38,788     20,224  

Other

   8,224     13,841  
    

 

Total deferred tax assets

   79,756     131,976  
    

 

Valuation Allowance

   (25,038 )   (43,070 )
    

 

Total deferred tax assets—net

   54,718     88,906  
    

 

Net deferred tax liability

   (124,767 )   (112,524 )
    

 

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Net long-term deferred tax liabilities were $150.2 million at December 31, 2002 and $117.2 million at December 31, 2001. In addition, net short-term deferred tax assets of $25.4 million at December 31, 2002 and $4.7 million, at December 31, 2001, are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets in prepaid and other current assets.

 

Cash paid during 2002, 2001 and 2000 for income taxes was $23.2 million, $36.2 million and $35.1 million, respectively.

 

As of December 31, 2002 and 2001, Arauco had valuation allowances of $26.7 million and $46.5 million, respectively, to reduce its deferred tax assets to estimated realizable value. The valuation allowances relate to the deferred tax assets arising from Argentina.

 

In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of Arauco’s total deferred tax assets will not be realized. The ultimate realization of these deferred tax assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning strategies in making this assessment. Based on the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the temporary differences are anticipated to reverse, management believes it is more likely than not that Arauco will realize the benefits of its deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance, at December 31, 2002, as reductions of future taxable income or by utilizing available tax planning strategies. However, the amount of the net deferred tax assets considered realizable could be adjusted in the future if estimates of taxable income are revised.

 

At December 31, 2002, Arauco had operating loss carry-forwards of approximately $101.0 million. Loss carry-forwards associated with Chile are $21.2 million which can be carried forward indefinitely. Loss carry-forwards associated with Argentina are $79.8 million total of which $2.7 million expire in 2005, $0.9 million expire in 2006 and $76.2 million expire in 2007.

 

The following table summarizes the effect of the differences between the statutory income tax rate and the effective income tax rates:

 

     Year ended December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

    2000

 
     ThUS$     ThUS$     ThUS$  

US GAAP pretax income multiplied by enacted tax rate

   54,229     29,083     59,506  

Permanent differences

   (343 )   (14,901 )   (2,839 )

Non-taxable income

   (1,308 )   (1,226 )   (1,115 )
    

 

 

Effective income tax amount

   52,578     12,956     55,552  
    

 

 

 

A/F-19


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Chilean statutory, first category (corporate) income tax rate was 15% for all years prior to 2002. The rate was 16% in 2002 and is scheduled to be 16.5% in 2003 and 17% in 2004 and thereafter in accordance with currently enacted tax legislation. Also, in accordance with Chilean law, the Company and each of its subsidiaries compute and pay tax on a separate basis and not on a consolidated basis. The Argentine statutory first category income tax rate was 35% in 2000 and 35% for all years thereafter.

 

NOTE 10—FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and short-term investments, receivables, payables, debt including notes and bonds and interest rate swaps. The estimated fair value of these financial instruments is based on the amount at which such instruments could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties, other than in a forced sale or liquidation. There are certain limitations inherent in the fair value data since, while the data represents management’s best estimates, the data is subjective, involving significant estimates regarding current economic and market conditions.

 

The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values are as follows:

 

For cash, short-term time deposits and current receivables and payables, the carrying amounts approximate the fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments. The fair value of marketable securities is estimated based on quoted market prices. The fair value of short-term and long-term debt is estimated based on current interest rates available to the Company for debt instruments with similar terms, degrees of risk, and remaining maturities. The fair value of the interest-rate swap agreements is obtained from dealer quotes and represents the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate the agreements.

 

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments are summarized below.

 

     At December 31, 2002

   At December 31, 2001

     Carrying value

   Estimated fair value

   Carrying value

   Estimated fair value

     (ThUS $)    (ThUS $)

Assets

                   

Cash

   29,583    29,583    19,737    19,737

Time deposits

   19,564    19,564    2,687    2,687

Short-term investments

   350,283    350,283    420,425    420,425

Liabilities

                   

Short-term debt

   32,125    32,125    87    87

Notes payable

   290,420    290,420    328,399    328,399

Bonds

   1,240,293    1,381,247    1,287,216    1,320,510

Derivative instrument

                   

Interest rate swap

   4,693    4,693    —      —  

 

A/F-20


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 11—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 

Transactions with related companies originate in the normal course of business and are recorded at market value. Transactions with companies with which Arauco has directors and/or management in common are also recorded at fair value.

 

Arauco enters into fuel purchase contracts with Compañía de Petróleos de Chile S.A. (Copec) the parent corporation of the Company. Arauco purchased fuel totaling $12.1 million during 2002 and $11.0 million in 2001. The terms of these contracts and purchases were generally similar to those prevailing with unrelated parties.

 

Arauco obtains insurance from Cruz del Sur, a Chilean insurance company controlled by a related party. Cruz del Sur is the supplier of all of Arauco’s insurance policies covering its forest holdings and production plants, facilities and equipment. Arauco paid direct insurance premiums of $3.0 million, $7.2 million and $3.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively. Outstanding balances at December 31, 2002 and 2001 with Cruz del Sur included a payable of $1.0 million and a credit of $0.7 million, respectively.

 

NOTE 12—CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

 

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal claims, actions and complaints. It is not possible to predict with certainty whether or not the Company and its subsidiaries will ultimately be successful in any of the legal matters, or if not, what the impact may be. However, Arauco’s management does not expect that the results in any of these legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on Arauco’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

Guarantees

 

The Company has guaranteed the debt of one of its subsidiaries, Alto Paraná S.A. At December 31, 2002 the outstanding principal amount of the guaranteed debt totaled $250 million. This guarantee would require payment by the Company in the event of default by Alto Paraná. The guarantee coincides with the terms of the note and expires in 2007. Arauco has no other material guarantees.

 

Covenants

 

The Company’s long-term borrowings require compliance with certain financial restrictions. Non-compliance could result in these debts becoming fully payable upon demand. Arauco was in compliance with all financial covenants at December 31, 2002.

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Environmental Proceedings

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain Chilean environmental laws and regulations. Under such regulations, the Company is required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may affect the environment. These regulations also establish procedures for private citizens to object to the plans or studies submitted by project owners. The extent to which such regulations will affect Arauco will depend upon how the authorized Chilean governmental agencies decide to implement such legislation. Enforcement remedies could include temporary or permanent closure of facilities and fines.

 

Arauco entered into various projects related to the improvement of, or investment in, product processes designed to protect the environment during the year ended December 31, 2002.

 

Arauco entered into a project to reduce gases and steam which are a by-product of the mill production process. Arauco has incurred costs of $1.3 million through December 31, 2002 and expects to incur an additional $3.2 million on this project.

 

The Company entered into environmental protection projects in connection with the Valdivia Mill Construction Project. The Company has incurred costs of $6.2 million on this project through December 31, 2002 and expects to incur an additional $6.6 million on this project.

 

Arauco has entered into various other environmental projects and incurred costs approximating $0.6 million. The Company anticipates incurring additional costs of $0.9 million associated with these projects.

 

Other

 

In December 2002, a subsidiary of the Company, Alto Paraná won a bid for 60,000 hectares of forestry land and plantations sold by the Argentine company Perez Companc. Alto Paraná agreed to pay $40 million for the land, which is located in Argentina, a sawmill and other assets, located close to Alto Parana’s operations. At December 31, 2002, Arauco had deposited $10 million in relation to this purchase. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the Argentine antitrust authorities.

 

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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company operates principally in three identifiable product segments, which comprise the production and sales of goods for (i) pulp products, (ii) forestry products and (iii) wood products. Pulp products include bleached and unbleached wood pulp products that result from the processing of pulp logs and chips. Forestry products include sawlogs and pulpwood. Wood products include flitches, sawn timber (lumber) and remanufactured wood products. Other services and products include mainly forestry services performed by the Company and electricity generation, which began production in late 1996.

 

Total revenues by segment include sales to unaffiliated customers, as reported in Arauco consolidated income statement, and inter-segment sales, which are accounted for at invoice price. Corporates expenses allocated to the pulp segment.

 

     Year ended December 31, 2002

     (ThUS $)
     Pulp

   Forestry

   Wood
Products


   Plywood and
fiberboards
panels


   Others

   Eliminations of
intercompany 
sales and
corporate
assets


    Consolidated

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   628,764    31,100    343,938    178,397    5,819    —       1,188,018

Inter-segment sales

   2,260    356,278    192,133    114,319    27,917    (692,907 )   —  

Total sales revenue

   631,024    387,378    536,071    292,716    33,736    (692,907 )   1,188,018
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Operating income

   189,929    28,890    50,085    89,367    4,883    —       363,154
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Identifiable assets as of December 31, 2002

   1,878,910    1,095,831    290,990    284,863    26,178    533,564     4,110,336
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

 

     Year ended December 31, 2001

     (ThUS $)
    

Pulp


  

Forestry


  

Wood
Products


  

Plywood and
fiberboards
panels


   Others

   Eliminations of
intercompany 
sales and
corporate
assets


    Consolidated

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   705,416    33,641    284,427    141,120    9,222    —       1,173,826

Inter-segment sales

   4,243    359,796    160,396    101,997    28,414    (654,846 )   —  

Total sales revenue

   709,659    393,437    444,823    243,117    37,636    (654,846 )   1,173,826
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Operating income

   157,868    46,972    12,154    45,848    7,304    —       270,146
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Identifiable assets as of December 31, 2001

   1,765,836    1,128,749    251,916    219,146    28,118    505,492     3,899,257
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

 

A/F-23


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Year ended December 31, 2000

     (ThUS $)
    

Pulp


  

Forestry


  

Wood
Products


  

Plywood and
fiberboards

panels


   Others

   Eliminations of
intercompany sales
and corporate
items


    Consolidated

Sales to unaffiliated customers

   791,981    60,246    285,300    107,617    15,198    —       1,260,342

Inter-segment sales

   —      335,070    143,813    34,677    30,174    (543,734 )   —  

Total sales revenue

   791,981    395,316    429,113    142,294    45,372    (543,734 )   1,260,342
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Operating income

   338,340    55,202    47,348    1,983    4,061    —       446,934
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

Identifiable assets as of December 31, 2000

   1,599,201    1,280,602    248,859    166,718    25,953    229,656     3,550,989
    
  
  
  
  
  

 

 

Sales revenue and long-lived assets of the Arauco’s detailed by country were as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31, 2002

     (ThUS $)

Country


   Sales
Revenue (*)


     Property, plant
and equipment


Chile

   1,036,359      1,381,904

Argentina

   151,659      469,336
    
    

Total

   1,188,018      1,851,240
    
    

 

     Year ended December 31, 2001

     (ThUS $)

Country


   Sales
Revenue (*)


     Property, plant
and equipment


Chile

   1,017,840      1,222,575

Argentina

   155,986      430,891
    
    

Total

   1,173,826      1,653,466
    
    

 

A/F-24


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

     Year ended December 31, 2000

     (ThUS $)

Country


   Sales
Revenue (*)


   Property, plant
and equipment


Chile

   1,049,446    1,232,919

Argentina

   210,896    406,374
    
  

Total

   1,260,342    1,639,293
    
  

(*)   Sales revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the sales office where the sale was recorded.

 

Depreciation expense for the Arauco’s segments was summarized as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2002

   2001

   2000

     (ThUS $)

Industry


              

Pulp

   75,447    94,252    85,501

Forestry

   4,078    2,404    5,881

Wood products

   12,122    11,629    9,774

Plywood and fiberboards panels

   10,249    9,261    3,201

Other

   1,989    2,250    2,219
    
  
  

Total depreciation

   103,885    119,796    106,576
    
  
  

 

Capital expenditures for the Arauco’s segments were summarized as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,

     2002

   2001

   2000

     (ThUS $)

Industry


              

Pulp

   235,689    110,392    99,796

Forestry

   40,522    53,319    52,882

Wood products

   13,899    21,960    67,487

Plywood and fiberboards panels

   37,689    36,883    43,296

Other

   3,005    1,277    127
    
  
  

Total capital expenditures

   330,804    223,831    263,588
    
  
  

 

Non cash capital expenditure activity was $6.4 million, $(2.4) million and $63.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively.

 

A/F-25


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Export sales of the Arauco detailed by major geographic area were as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31,

 
     2002

    2001

    2000

 
     (ThUS $)  

North America

   131,070     188,400     107,687  

Central and South America

   158,328     155,467     159,992  

Asia

   341,922     442,369     380,801  

Europe

   368,572     192,158     341,931  

Other

   26,697     10,582     35,178  
    

 

 

Total export sales

   1,026,589     988,976     1,025,589  
    

 

 

Export sales as a percentage of total sales revenue

   86.41 %   84.25 %   81.37 %

 

NOTE 14—SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

 

In January 2003, the Company made a cash capital contribution of $28.5 million to EKA Chile S.A. (“EKA Chile”). EKA Chile is the result of a joint venture between the Company and EKA Chemicals, a Swedish chemical company. EKA contributed equipment for its portion of the joint venture. EKA Chile is 50% owned by each party. EKA’s operations will be located in Talcahuano, near Arauco operations, and will provide chlorate to Arauco’s mills.

 

On February 3, 2003 the Company obtained a $150 million loan from J.P. Morgan-Chase denominated in US dollars that has a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%. Interest payments are due semi-annually, while the loan principal is repayable in five semi-annual payments, which begin on February 7, 2006.

 

No other events have occurred since December 31, 2002 and up to the issuance of these financial statements that may affect significantly the financial situation of Arauco.

 

A/F-26


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: June 27, 2003

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.

By:

 

/s/    Matías Domeyko


   

Matías Domeyko

   

Chief Financial Officer

 

By:

 

/s/    Gianfranco Truffello


   

Gianfranco Truffello

   

Finance Manager

 

A/X-1


Table of Contents

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Alejandro Pérez, certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  (c)   Presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a)   All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

       

/s/ Alejandro Pérez


Date: June 27, 2003

      Alejandro Pérez
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

A/X-2


Table of Contents

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Matías Domeyko, certify that:

 

  1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 20-F of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.;

 

  2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

  4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the registrant and have:

 

  (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  (b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  (c)   Presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

  5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  (a)   All significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

  6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

       

/s/    Matías Domeyko


Date: June 27, 2003

      Matías Domeyko
Chief Financial Officer

 

 

A/X-3


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.

 

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

 

Exhibit 1.1

   English translation of the by-laws (estatutos) of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., dated as of April 29, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Annual Report of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. on Form 20-F filed on June 26, 2002)

Exhibit 8.1

   List of subsidiaries

Exhibit 10.1

   Certification of Alejandro Pérez and Matías Domeyko pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Exhibit 12.1

   Letter from Celulosa Arauco y Constitución to the SEC regarding Langton Clarke Auditores Consultores Ltda. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Annual Report of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. on Form 20-F filed on June 26, 2002)

Exhibit 12.2

   Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

A/X-4


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT 8.1

 

Subsidiary


   Jurisdiction
of
Incorporation


Agenciamiento y Servicios Profesionales S.A.

   Mexico

Alto Paraná S.A.

   Argentina

Arauco Denmark ApS

   Denmark

Arauco do Brasil Ltda.

   Brazil

Arauco Ecuador S.A.

   Ecuador

Arauco Europe S.A.

   Switzerland

Arauco Forest Products B.V.

   The Netherlands

Arauco Generación S.A.

   Chile

Arauco Honduras S. de R.L. de C.V.

   Honduras

Arauco Internacional S.A. (previously Inversiones Cholguán S.A.)

   Chile

Araucomex S.A. de C.V.

   Mexico

Arauco Perú S.A. (previously Cholguán Lima S.A.).

   Peru

Arauco Wood Products, Inc.

   U.S.A.

Aserraderos Arauco S.A.

   Chile

Bosques Arauco S.A.

   Chile

Controladora de Plagas Forestales S.A.

   Chile

Distribuidora Centromaderas S.A.

   Chile

Forestal Arauco S.A.

   Chile

Forestal Arauco Costa Rica S.A.

   Costa Rica

Forestal Arauco Guatemala S.A.

   Guatemala

Forestal Celco S.A.

   Chile

Forestal Cholguán S.A.

   Chile

Forestal Conosur S.A.

   Uruguay

Forestal Misiones S.A.

   Argentina

Forestal Valdivia S.A.

   Chile

Industrias Forestales S.A.

   Argentina

Inversiones Celco S.L

   Spain

Investigaciones Forestales Bioforest S.A

   Chile

Paneles Arauco S.A.

   Chile

Servicios Logísticos Arauco S.A. (previously Portuaria Arauco S.A.)

   Chile

Southwoods-Arauco Lumber LLC

   U.S.A.

Trupán Argentina S.A.

   Argentina

 

A/X-5


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT 10.1

 

Certification Required Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

Pursuant to section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (subsections (a) and (b) of Section 1350, Chapter 63 of Title 18, United States Code), each of the undersigned officers of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002 of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and information contained in the Form 20-F fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: June 27, 2003

 

/s/    Alejandro Pérez


    

Name:

 

Alejandro Pérez

    Title:  

Chief Executive Officer

Dated: June 27, 2003

 

/s/    Matías Domeyko


   

Name:

 

Matías Domeyko

   

Title:

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. and will be retained by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

A/X-6


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT 12.2

 

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

 

Valuation and Qualifying Accounts


   Opening
Balance


   Charged to
Expense


   Charged
against
Income


   Closing
Balance


Deferred tax valuation allowance

                   

December 31, 2002

   43,070    12,258    30,290    25,038

December 31, 2001

   54,468    —      11,398    43,070

December 31, 2000

   93,134    —      38,666    54,468

 

A/X-7


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CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

UNAUDITED INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Index

 

     Page

Report of independent accountants

   F-1

Unaudited interim condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2003

   F-2

Unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

   F-4

Unaudited interim condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002

   F-5

Notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements

   F-6

 

F-i


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Accountants

 

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

 

 

We have reviewed the accompanying interim condensed consolidated balance sheet of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of June 30, 2003 and the related interim condensed consolidated statements of income and of cash flows for each of the six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002. These interim financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

 

We conducted our review in accordance with standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

 

Based on our review, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

We previously audited in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2002, and the related consolidated statements of income, of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for the year then ended (presented herein), and in our report dated March 7, 2003 we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet information as of December 31, 2002, is fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the consolidated balance sheet from which it has been derived.

 

 

 

 

/S/    PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS

Santiago, Chile

August 8, 2003

 

F-1


Table of Contents

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

     June 30,
2003


   December 31,
2002


     (Unaudited)     
     (US$ in thousands)
ASSETS          

CURRENT ASSETS:

         

Cash and cash equivalents

   66,852    49,147

Short-term investments

   308,696    350,283

Trade receivables - net

   188,341    186,783

Other receivables - net

   62,498    72,574

Inventories (3)

   225,726    203,089

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

   77,457    121,607
    
  

Total current assets

   929,570    983,483
    
  

LONG-TERM ASSETS:

         

Forest

   1,226,830    1,188,013

Property, plant and equipment – net (4)

   2,024,297    1,851,240

Investments in affiliates

   40,202    20,768

Goodwill

   35,767    23,668

Other long-term assets

   64,968    43,164
    
  

Total long-term assets

   3,392,064    3,126,853
    
  

Total assets

   4,321,634    4,110,336
    
  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

F-2


Table of Contents

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

    

June 30,

2003


   December 31,
2002


     (Unaudited)     
     (US$ in thousands)

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

         

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

         

Short-term debt

   21    32,125

Current portion of long-term notes

   50,307    38,057

Current portion of bonds

   80,822    82,793

Accounts payable

   174,873    162,397

Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities

   56,110    61,092
    
  

Total current liabilities

   362,133    376,464
    
  

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES:

         

Long-term notes

   352,192    252,363

Long-term bonds

   1,157,500    1,157,500

Deferred income taxes

   151,800    150,214

Other long-term liabilities

   9,697    10,003
    
  

Total long-term liabilities

   1,671,189    1,570,080
    
  

MINORITY INTEREST

   6,058    6,127
    
  

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:

         

Common stock (nominal par value, 113,152,446 shares authorized and issued)

   —      —  

Paid-in capital

   363,833    363,833

Retained earnings

   1,918,421    1,793,832
    
  

Total stockholders’ equity

   2,282,254    2,157,665
    
  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   4,321,634    4,110,336
    
  

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)

 

     Six months ended June 30,

 
     2003

    2002

 
     (US$ in thousands)  

Net sales

   664,308     561,295  

Operating costs and expenses:

            

Cost of sales

   (335,394 )   (321,170 )

Depreciation

   (54,226 )   (53,453 )

Selling and administrative

   (54,885 )   (36,271 )
    

 

Total operating costs and expenses

   (444,505 )   (410,894 )
    

 

Income from operations

   219,803     150,401  

Non-operating income (expense):

            

Interest income

   12,435     12,180  

Other income

   5,682     1,666  

Foreign exchange gains

   28,588     22,382  

Interest expense

   (23,624 )   (33,732 )
    

 

Total non-operating income

   23,081     2,496  
    

 

Income before taxes, minority interest and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   242,884     152,897  

Provision for income taxes

   (39,413 )   (24,029 )

Minority interest in consolidated subsidiaries

   (144 )   (158 )

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   1,759     1,094  
    

 

Net income

   205,086     129,804  
    

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

 

     Six months ended June 30,

 
     2003

    2002

 
     (US$ in thousands)  

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

            

Net income

   205,086     129,804  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

            

Depreciation

   54,226     53,453  

Minority interest in net income of consolidated subsidiaries

   144     158  

Earnings of unconsolidated affiliates

   (1,759 )   (1,094 )

Deferred income taxes

   13,010     5,288  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

   63     215  

(Gain) loss on sale of fixed assets

   271     (312 )

Investments and proceeds from sales of trading securities

   41,587     (56,492 )

Decrease (increase) in receivables

   8,455     35,461  

Decrease (increase) in inventories

   (22,637 )   9,353  

Decrease (increase) in other assets

   12,130     8,183  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

   (74,014 )   (29,653 )

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities

   (4,982 )   3,613  
    

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

   231,580     157,977  
    

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES

            

Additions to forest

   (17,861 )   (15,225 )

Additions to property, plant and equipment

   (212,779 )   (79,888 )

Proceeds from sales of property, plant and equipment

   805     745  

Investment in related companies

   (28,530 )   —    

Dividends received from related companies

   380     331  
    

 

Net cash used in investing activities

   (257,985 )   (94,037 )
    

 

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES

            

Bank borrowings

   152,253     760  

Payment of notes and bond principal

   (41,880 )   (39,774 )

Dividends paid

   (66,263 )   (32,934 )
    

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

   44,110     (71,948 )
    

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   17,705     (8,008 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

   49,147     22,424  
    

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

   66,852     14,416  
    

 

 

See Notes to Financial Statements.

 

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Table of Contents

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(Unaudited, except for December 31, 2002)

 

NOTE 1- INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The interim financial information included herein is unaudited; however, such information reflects all adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the interim periods. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. The results of operations for the first six months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations which might be expected for the entire year.

 

The financial statements in our 2002 annual report on Form 20-F include a summary of significant accounting policies of the Company and should be read in conjunction with these interim financial statements. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the 2003 presentation format.

 

NOTE 2 - IMPACT OF RECENTLY EFFECTIVE ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

 

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations” (“SFAS 143”). SFAS 143 requires entities to record the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred. When the liability is initially recorded, the entity capitalizes the cost by increasing the carrying amount of the related long-lived asset. Over time, the liability is accreted to its present value each period and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful life of the related asset. Upon settlement of the liability, the entity either settles the obligation for the amount recorded or incurs a gain or loss. SFAS 143 is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2002. Adoption of SFAS 143 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146 “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS 146”). This statement supercedes EITF Issue No. 94-3 “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. SFAS 146 requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. Under EITF 94-3, a liability is recognized at the date an entity commits to an exit plan. SFAS 146 also establishes that the liability should initially be measured and recorded at fair value. The provisions of SFAS 146 are effective for any exit and disposal activities initiated after December 31, 2002. Arauco has not initiated any such exit or disposal activities in 2003; therefore, adoption of SFAS 146 had no impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In November 2002, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others” (“FIN 45”). FIN 45 requires that upon issuance of a guarantee, a guarantor must recognize a liability for the fair value of an obligation assumed under a guarantee. FIN 45 also requires additional disclosures by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about the obligations associated with guarantees issued. Initial recognition and measurement provisions of FIN 45 are applicable on a prospective basis to guarantees issued or modified. Arauco has no such guarantees.

 

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In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities” (“FIN 46”). FIN 46 requires that companies that control another entity through interests other than voting interests should consolidate the controlled entity. FIN 46 applies to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003, and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. The related disclosure requirements are effective immediately. Arauco does not have or has not created or obtained an interest in any such entities.

 

During fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, Arauco implemented SFAS No. 145, “Rescission of FAS Nos. 4, 44 and 64, Amendment of FAS 13, and Technical Corrections”, under which gains and losses from extinguishment of debt should be classified as extraordinary items only if they meet criteria outlined in Accounting Principles Bulletin No. 30. Under SFAS No. 145 Arauco recorded losses on the early extinguishment of debt in earnings from continuing operations in the Company’s statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2002. No such losses have arisen in the six-month period ended June 30, 2003.

 

In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivatives and Hedging Activities. This statement (1) clarifies under what circumstances a contract with an initial net investment meets the characteristic of a derivative, (2) clarifies when a derivative contains a financing component, and (3) amends the definition of an underlying to conform to FIN 45. SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003, with all provisions applied prospectively. The adoption of this statement is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity”. This statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify an instrument entered into or modified after May 31, 2003, and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. As of June 30, 2003, the Company had no financial instruments within the scope of SFAS No. 150.

 

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES

 

The principal components were as follows:

 

    

June 30,

2003


  

December 31,

2002


     ThUS$    ThUS$

Finished goods

   148,445    133,687

Work in progress

   3,645    2,609

Sawlogs, pulpwood and chips

   15,283    10,950

Raw materials

   46,070    44,623

Other parts and materials

   12,283    11,220
    
  

Total inventories

   225,726    203,089
    
  

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT – NET

 

     Useful lives

  

June 30,

2003


   

December 31,

2002


 
          ThUS$     ThUS$  

Land and improvements

   —      368,094     367,674  

Buildings and improvements

   27 years    1,154,198     1,238,483  

Machinery and equipment

   11 years    1,314,493     1,211,599  

Construction in progress

   —      546,193     331,294  

Other

   3 years    138,757     145,325  
         

 

          3,521,735     3,294,375  

Accumulated depreciation

        (1,497,438 )   (1,443,135 )
         

 

Total property, plant and equipment – net

        2,024,297     1,851,240  
         

 

 

NOTE 5 – DEBT

 

On February 3, 2003 the Company obtained a $ 150 million loan from J.P. Morgan-Chase denominated in US dollars that has a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 0.85%. Interest payments are due semi-annually, while the loan principal is repayable in five semi-annual payments, which begin on February 7, 2006. Proceeds from this loan were used to repay short-term obligations.

 

NOTE 6 – SEGMENT INFORMATION

 

The Company operates principally in four identifiable product segments, which comprise the production and sales of goods for (i) pulp products, (ii) forestry products, (iii) wood products and (iv) plywood and fiber boards panels. Pulp products include bleached and unbleached wood pulp products that result from the processing of pulp logs and chips. Forestry products include sawlogs and pulpwood. Wood products include flitches, sawn timber (lumber) and remanufactured wood products produced at the saw mills. Plywood and fiberboards panels are consumer products manufactured at production facilities. Other services and products include mainly forestry services performed by the Company and electricity generation, which began production in late 1996.

 

Total revenues by segment include sales to unaffiliated customers, as reported in Arauco’s consolidated income statement, and inter-segment sales, which are accounted for at invoice price. Corporates expenses are allocated only to the pulp segment.

 

     Six Months ended June 30, 2003

     (ThUS$)
     Pulp

   Forestry

   Wood
products


  

Plywood and

fiberboards
panels


   Others

   

Eliminations

of intercompany sales

and corporate

assets


    Consolidated

                    
Sales to unaffiliated customers    324,195    14,418    186,201    134,763    4,731     —       664,308
Inter-segment sales    —      193,409    22,809    26,143    14,028     (256,389 )   —  
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Total sales revenue    324,195    207,827    209,010    160,906    18,759     (256,389 )   664,308
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Operating income    117,187    44,015    41,334    23,304    (6,037 )   —       219,803
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Total assets as of June 30, 2003    2,162,124    1,167,689    275,990    268,049    22,186     425,596     4,321,634
    
  
  
  
  

 

 

 

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Table of Contents
     Six Months ended June 30, 2002

     (ThUS$)
     Pulp

   Forestry

   Wood
products


  

Plywood and

fiberboards

panels


   Others

   

Eliminations

of intercompany sales

and corporate

assets


    Consolidated

Sales to unaffiliated customers    288,939    16,389    162,648    84,600    8,719     —       561,295
Inter-segment sales    —      177,701    22,887    22,716    12,498     (235,802 )   —  
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Total sales revenue    288,939    194,090    185,535    107,316    21,217     (235,802 )   561,295
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Operating income    71,864    32,627    32,879    18,907    (5,876 )   —       150,401
    
  
  
  
  

 

 
Total assets as of June 30, 2002    1,783,600    1,082,031    250,320    243,775    24,262     523,092     3,907,080
    
  
  
  
  

 

 

 

Arauco’s sales revenue and long-lived assets detailed by country were as follows:

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2003

     (ThUS $)

Country


   Sales
Revenue (*)


   Property, plant
and equipment


Chile

   560,913    1,364,695

Argentina

   103,395    659,602
    
  

Total

   664,308    2,024,297
    
  

 

     Six months ended June 30, 2002

     (ThUS $)

Country


   Sales
Revenue (*)


   Property, plant
and equipment


Chile

   490,912    1,041,209

Argentina

   70,383    688,465
    
  

Total

   561,295    1,729,674
    
  

(*)   Sales revenues are attributed to countries based on the location of the sales office where the sale was recorded.

 

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Table of Contents

Depreciation expense for Arauco’s segments is summarized as follows:

 

Industry


   Six months ended June 30

     2003

   2002

     (ThUS$)

Pulp

   39,238    40,781

Forestry

   1,845    1,203

Wood products

   5,817    5,904

Plywood and fiberboards panels

   6,527    4,610

Other

   799    955
    
  

Total depreciation

   54,226    53,453
    
  

 

Capital expenditures for Arauco’s segments are summarized as follows:

 

Industry


   Six months ended June 30

     2003

   2002

     (ThUS$)

Pulp

   207,436    70,937

Forestry

   18,440    16,030

Wood products

   6,940    6,730

Plywood and fiberboards panels

   12,759    21,256

Other

   538    268
    
  

Total capital expenditures

   246,113    115,221
    
  

 

Non cash capital expenditure activity was $15.5 million and $20.1 million for the periods ended June 30, 2003, and 2002, respectively.

 

Arauco’s export sales detailed by major geographic area were as follows:

 

     Six months ended June 30

 
     2003

    2002

 
     (ThUS$)  

North America

   141,465     127,278  

Central and South America

   89,661     73,220  

Asia

   196,331     159,213  

Europe

   120,620     101,205  

Other

   20,637     19,185  
    

 

Total export sales

   568,714     480,101  
    

 

Export sales as a percentage of total sales revenue

   85.61 %   85.53 %

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 7 - CONTINGENCIES AND COMMITMENTS

 

In the normal course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries are parties to various legal claims, actions and complaints. It is not possible to predict with certainty whether or not the Company and its subsidiaries will ultimately be successful in any of the legal matters, or if not, what the impact may be. However, Arauco’s management does not expect that the results in any of these legal proceedings will have a material adverse effect on Arauco’s results of operations, financial position or cash flows.

 

Covenants

 

The Company’s long-term borrowings require compliance with certain financial restrictions. Non-compliance could result in these debts becoming fully payable upon demand. Arauco was in compliance with all financial covenants at June 30, 2003.

 

Environmental Proceedings

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain Chilean environmental laws and regulations. Under such regulations, the Company is required to conduct environmental impact studies of any future projects or activities that may affect the environment. These regulations also establish procedures for private citizens to object to the plans or studies submitted by project owners. The extent to which such regulations will affect Arauco will depend upon how the authorized Chilean governmental agencies decide to implement such legislation. Enforcement remedies could include temporary or permanent closure of facilities and fines.

 

During the period ended June 30, 2003, Arauco entered into various projects related to the improvement of, or investment in, product processes designed to protect the environment.

 

Arauco entered into a project to reduce gases and steam which are a by-product of the mill production process. Arauco has incurred costs of $1.7 million through June 30, 2003 and expects to incur an additional $2.2 million on this project. Costs for this project are expensed as incurred.

 

The Company voluntarily commenced environmental projects in connection with the Valdivia Mill Construction Project. The Company has incurred costs of $13.1 million on these projects through June 30, 2003 and expects to incur an additional $14.1 million on these projects. These projects are expected to be completed in 2004 and no provisions have been established as of June 30, 2003.

 

Arauco has entered into various other environmental projects in the six months period ended June 30, 2003 and incurred costs approximating $0.9 million. The Company anticipates incurring additional costs of $0.1 million associated with these projects.

 

Other

 

In December 2002, a subsidiary of the Company, Alto Paraná won a bid for 60,000 hectares of forestry land plantations sold by the Argentine company Perez Companc. Alto Paraná agreed to pay $40 million for the land, a sawmill and other assets, located in Argentina close to Alto Parana’s operations. At June 30, 2003, Arauco had deposited $10 million in relation to this purchase. The transaction is still subject to the approval of the Argentine antitrust authorities. Upon approval by the authorities, Arauco will pay the remaining balance of $30 million.

 

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Table of Contents

NOTE 8- SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On July 9, 2003, the Company issued $300 million of ten-year bonds at 5.125%, the proceeds of which will be used to repay liabilities and for other corporate initiatives. Interest is payable on January 9 and July 9 of each year begining January 9, 2004.

 

No other events have occurred since June 30, 2003 and up to the issuance of these financial statements that may affect significantly the financial situation of Arauco.

 

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Table of Contents

Part II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item   20. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

The Registrant’s estatutos do not provide for indemnification of directors and officers. Under Chilean law, when a director or officer of a corporation acts within the scope of his or her authority, the corporation will answer for any resulting liabilities or expenses.

 

Item   21. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.

 

  (a)   List of Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description


  3

   Estatutos of Registrant, which serve as Registrant’s articles of incorporation and by-laws (English translation) dated as of April 29, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 20-F, filed on June 26, 2002).

*4 (a)

   Indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank.

*4 (b)

   Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2003 between the Registrant and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

*5 (a)

   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*5 (b)

   Opinion of Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*5 (c)

   Opinion of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*12

   Statement explaining the calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

*15

   PricewaterhouseCoopers Awareness Letter.

  21

   List of subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to the Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 20-F, filed on June 27, 2003).

*23 (a)

   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

*23 (b)

   Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (a) to this Registration Statement).

*23 (c)

   Consent of Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (b) to this Registration Statement).

*23 (d)

   Consent of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (c) to this Registration Statement).

*24

   Power of Attorney (included on signature pages).

*25

   Statement of eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank to act as trustee under the indenture.

*99.1

   Form of Letter of Transmittal.

*99.2

   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

*99.3

   Form of Letter to Registered Holders and DTC Participants.

*99.4

   Form of Letter to Clients.

*   Filed herewith

 

Item   22. Undertakings.

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, unless the information required to be included in such post-effective amendment is contained in a periodic report filed by Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated herein by reference;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which,

 

Part II-1


Table of Contents

individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement, unless the information required to be included in such post-effective amendment is contained in a periodic report filed by Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and incorporated herein by reference; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

 

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

 

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

 

(b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(c) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: (i) to respond to requests for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other equally prompt means; and (ii) to arrange or provide for a facility in the US for the purpose of responding to such requests. The undertaking in subparagraph (i) above includes information contained in documents filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date of responding to the request.

 

(d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction and the company being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the registration statement when it became effective.

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Santiago, Chile, on the 2nd day of October, 2003.

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency    

By:

 

                                     /s/ Alejandro Pérez


Name:     Alejandro Pérez

            Title:       Chief Executive Officer

 

By:

 

/s/ Matías Domeyko


                   Name:     Matías Domeyko

                   Title:       Chief Financial Officer

 

POWERS OF ATTORNEY

 

Each of the undersigned directors and officers of Celulosa Arauco y Constitucíon S.A. does hereby constitute and appoint Messrs. Alejandro Pérez, Matias Domeyko, Gianfranco Truffello and Robinson Tajmuch or any of them as the undersigned’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents to do any and all things in the undersigned’s name and behalf in the undersigned’s capacities as director and/or officer, and to execute any and all instruments for the undersigned and in the undersigned’s name in the capacities indicated below which such person or persons may deem necessary or advisable to enable Celulosa Arauco y Constitucíon S.A. to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules, regulations and requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this Registration Statement, including specifically, but not limited to, power and authority to sign for the undersigned in the capacities indicated below any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) hereto, and the undersigned does hereby ratify and confirm all that such person or persons shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on October 2nd, 2003.

 

Name


  

Title


/s/ José Tomás Guzmán


      José Tomás Guzmán

   Chairman and Director

/s/ Roberto Angelini


      Roberto Angelini

   Vice-Chairman and Director

/s/ Jorge Andueza


      Jorge Andueza

   Director

 

Part II-3


Table of Contents

Name


  

Title


/s/ Anacleto Angelini


      Anacleto Angelini

   Director

/s/ Manuel Bezanilla


      Manuel Bezanilla

   Director

*


      Jorge Bunster

   Director

/s/ Carlos Croxatto


      Carlos Croxatto

   Director

*


      Alberto Etchegaray

   Director

/s/ Felipe Lamarca


      Felipe Lamarca

   Director

/s/ Alejandro Pérez


      Alejandro Pérez

   President and Chief Executive Officer

/s/ Matías Domeyko


      Matías Domeyko

   Chief Financial Officer

 

Part II-4


Table of Contents

Name


 

Title


/s/ Charles Kimber


      Charles Kimber

  Authorized Representative in the United States

 

Part II-5


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit Number

  

Description


  3

   Estatutos of Registrant, which serve as Registrant’s articles of incorporation and by-laws (English translation) dated as of April 29, 2002 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 20-F, filed on June 26, 2002).

*4 (a)

   Indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 between the Registrant and JPMorgan Chase Bank.

*4 (b)

   Registration Rights Agreement dated as of July 9, 2003 between the Registrant and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

*5 (a)

   Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*5 (b)

   Opinion of Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*5 (c)

   Opinion of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman regarding the validity of the securities being registered.

*12

   Statement explaining the calculation of the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.

*15

   PricewaterhouseCoopers Awareness Letter.

  21

   List of subsidiaries of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to the Annual Report of the Registrant on Form 20-F, filed on June 27, 2003).

*23 (a)

   Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers.

*23 (b)

   Consent of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (a) to this Registration Statement).

*23 (c)

   Consent of Portaluppi, Guzmán y Bezanilla (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (b) to this Registration Statement).

*23 (d)

   Consent of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 (c) to this Registration Statement).

*24

   Power of Attorney (included on signature pages).

*25

   Statement of eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank to act as trustee under the indenture.

*99.1

   Form of Letter of Transmittal.

*99.2

   Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

*99.3

   Form of Letter to Registered Holders and DTC Participants.

*99.4

   Form of Letter to Clients.

*   Filed herewith

 

Part II-6

EX-4.A 3 dex4a.htm INDENTURE DATED AS OF JULY 9, 2003 BETWEEN THE REGISTRANT & JPMORGAN CHASE BANK Indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 between the Registrant & JPMorgan Chase Bank

Exhibit 4(a)

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

INDENTURE dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”), among CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCION S.A., a Chilean open stock corporation (sociedad anónima abierta) (the “Company”), acting through its Panamanian agency, having its principal office at Avenida El Golf 150, 14th Floor, Santiago, Chile, and JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee hereunder (the “Trustee”).

 

Recitals of the Company

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series.

 

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

 

Agreements of the Parties

 

To set forth or to provide for the establishment of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are and are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of a series thereof, as the case may be:

 

ARTICLE ONE

 

Definitions and Other Provisions

 

of General Application


SECTION 101. Definitions. For all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

 

(b) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act or by Commission rule under the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

 

(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the Republic of Chile at the date of such computation;

 

(d) all references in this instrument to designated “Articles”, “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this instrument. The words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision; and

 

(e) “including” and words of similar import shall be deemed to be followed by “without limitation”.

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Securityholder, has the meaning specified in Section 104.

 

“Additional Amounts” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this

 

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definition, “control”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

 

“Attributable Value” means, as to any particular lease under which the Company or any Subsidiary is at any time liable as lessee and any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended) discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such date at a rate per annum equivalent to the interest rate inherent in such lease (as determined in good faith by the Company in accordance with generally accepted financial practice).

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee to authenticate Securities under Section 614.

 

“Bankruptcy Law” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Board of Directors, to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day” means each day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in the pertinent Place or Places of Payment are authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

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“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

 

“Consent” means a written consent signed in the name of the Company, by any two of the following: its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President, its Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, Assistant Controller, its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Company, duly authorized by a Board Resolution and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Consolidated Net Tangible Assets” means the total of all assets (including revaluations thereof as a result of commercial appraisals, price-level restatement or otherwise) appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries, net of all applicable reserves and deductions, but excluding goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount, and all other like intangible assets (which term shall not be construed to include such revaluations), less the aggregate of the current liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries appearing on such balance sheet (excluding the current portion of long term debt).

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 4 New York Plaza, 15th Floor, New York, New York 10004, Attention: Institutional Trust Services; and such other offices as the Trustee may designate from time to time.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 307.

 

“Depositary” means, unless otherwise specified by the Company pursuant to either Section 204 or 301, with respect to Securities of any series issuable or issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, or any successor thereto registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation.

 

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“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 501.

 

“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Exchange Securities” has the meaning specified in Appendix A.

 

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder, a Security which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture and an indenture supplemental hereto, if any, or Board Resolution and pursuant to a Company Request, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee and which shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series or any portion thereof, in either case having the same terms, including the same original issue date, date or dates on which principal is due, and interest rate or method of determining interest and shall include any Rule 144A Global Security and any Regulation S Global Security (each as defined in Appendix A).

 

“Holder”, when used with respect to any Security, means a Securityholder.

 

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person (without duplication), (a) any liability of such Person (1) for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit, financial bond or similar instrument or agreement, (2) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument or agreement (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets of any kind (other than a trade payable or a current liability arising in the ordinary course of business), (3) for the payment of money relating to any obligations under any capital lease of real or personal property or (4) for purposes of Section 1006 and 1007, under any agreement or instrument in respect of an interest rate or currency swap, exchange or hedging transaction or other financial derivatives transaction; (b) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (a) that the Person has guaranteed or that is otherwise its legal

 

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liability; and (c) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above. For the purpose of determining any particular amount of Indebtedness under this definition, guarantees of (or obligations with respect to letters of credit or financial bonds supporting) Indebtedness otherwise included in the determination of such amount shall also not be included.

 

“Indenture” or “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301.

 

“Independent”, when used with respect to any specified Person, means such a Person who (a) is in fact independent, (b) does not have any direct financial interest or any material indirect financial interest in the Company or in any other obligor upon the Securities or in any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, and (c) is not at the relevant time connected with the Company or such other obligor or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, as an officer, employee, promoter, underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions. Whenever it is herein provided that any Independent Person’s opinion or certificate shall be furnished to the Trustee, such Person shall be appointed by a Company Order, and such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has read this definition and that the signer is Independent within the meaning hereof.

 

“Interest”, when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any series of Securities, means the Stated Maturity of any installment of interest on those Securities.

 

“Judgment Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, charge or other similar encumbrance (including

 

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any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof other than a title retention agreement in connection with the purchase of goods in the ordinary course of business which is outstanding for not more than 360 days).

 

“Manufacturing Facility” means any pulp mill, sawmill or wood processing facility of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Securities, means the date on which the principal of any such Security becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether on a Repayment Date, at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two of the following: the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Company duly authorized by a Board Resolution and delivered to the Trustee. One of the Officers signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 604 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company. Wherever this Indenture requires that an Officers’ Certificate be signed also by an engineer or an accountant or other expert, such engineer, accountant or other expert (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) may be in the employ of the Company, and shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

“OID” has the meaning specified in Section 301.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or of counsel to the Company. Such counsel and opinion shall be acceptable to the Trustee, whose acceptance shall not be unreasonably withheld.

 

“Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company, by any two of the following: its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, President or a

 

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Vice President, its Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, Assistant Controller, its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Company duly authorized by a Board Resolution and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means (a) any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof, and (b) any other Security deemed an Original Issue Discount Security for United States Federal income tax purposes.

 

“Outstanding”, when used with respect to Securities or Securities of any series, means, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

 

(a) such Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

(b) such Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent in trust for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and

 

(c) such Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or which shall have been paid pursuant to the terms of Section 306 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a Person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, (i) the principal amount of any 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 the

 

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taking of such action upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof and (ii) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act as owner with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Panama” means the Republic of Panama.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

 

“Place of Payment” means, with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder, the city or political subdivision so designated with respect to the series of Securities in question in accordance with the provisions of Section 301, which if not so designated shall be The City of New York.

 

“Predecessor Securities” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

 

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“Redemption Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price specified in such Security or pursuant to this Indenture at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture or, if not so specified, at 100% of the principal amount thereof.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date means the date specified in such Security or pursuant to this Indenture as the Regular Record Date, irrespective of whether such date is a Business Day.

 

“Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the date fixed for such repayment in such Security or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, means the price specified in such Security or pursuant to this Indenture at which it is to be repaid pursuant to such Security.

 

“Republic of Chile” means the Republic of Chile.

 

“Request” means a written request signed in the name of the Company by any two of the following: its Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President, its Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, Assistant Controller, its Secretary or Assistant Secretary, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Company duly authorized by a Board Resolution and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Required Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 116.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other

 

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officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Sale and Leaseback Transaction” means any transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary sells or transfers any property to any Person with the intention of taking back a lease of such property pursuant to which the rental payments are calculated to amortize the purchase price of such property substantially over the useful life thereof and such property is in fact so leased.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered from time to time under this Indenture.

 

“Security Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 305.

 

“Security Registrar” means the Person who keeps the Security Register specified in Section 305.

 

“Securityholder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of the Company which would be a “significant subsidiary” within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission as in effect on the date of the Indenture, assuming the Company is the registrant referred to in such definition.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest (as defined in Section 307) means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

 

“Specified Property” means Manufacturing Facilities and Timberlands.

 

“Stated Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security

 

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or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation or other business entity of which the Company owns or controls (either directly or through one or more other Subsidiaries) more than 50% of the issued share capital or other ownership interests, in each case having ordinary voting power to elect or appoint directors, managers or trustees of such corporation or other business entity (whether or not capital stock or other ownership interests or any other class or classes shall or might have voting power upon the occurrence of any contingency).

 

“Taxes” has the meaning specified in Section 308.

 

“Timberlands” means at any time property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, or as to which the Company or any Subsidiary has cutting rights, which contains standing timber which is, or upon completion of a growth cycle then in process is expected to become, of commercial quantity and of merchantable quality; excluding from the term “Timberlands”, however, any property which at the time is held primarily for development (other than as timberlands) and/or sale, and not primarily for the production of any wood products.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed, except as provided in Section 905; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

“Trustee” means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean and include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

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“U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof or any other Person, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act), as custodian with respect to any obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian shall not be authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Vice President”, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “vice president”, including an assistant vice president.

 

“Voting Stock”, as applied to the stock of any corporation, means stock of any class or classes (however designated) having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other governing body) of such corporation other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

 

“Wholly-Owned Subsidiary” means any Person of which 100% of the outstanding stock (other than directors’ qualifying shares, if any) having by the terms thereof ordinary voting power (not dependent upon the happening of a contingency) to elect the board of directors of such corporation is at the time owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Company, or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries.

 

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SECTION 102. Compliance Certificates and Opinions. Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of counsel providing such Opinion all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance by or on behalf of the Company with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (except for the written statement required by Section 1004) shall include

 

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

 

(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

 

(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

SECTION 103. Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee. In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other

 

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such Persons as to the other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless counsel providing such Opinion of Counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

SECTION 104. Acts of Securityholders. (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Securityholders or Securityholders of any series may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. If any Securities are denominated in coin or currency other than that of the United States, then for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have taken any action as herein described, the principal amount of such Securities shall be deemed to be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange into United States dollars for the currency in which such Securities are denominated (as evidenced to the Trustee by an Officers’ Certificate) as of

 

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the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness to such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Securities Outstanding have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction,

 

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notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Securities Outstanding shall be computed as of the record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or take any such action with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any different part of such principal amount.

 

SECTION 105. Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Securityholders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

 

(a) the Trustee by any Securityholder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or

 

(b) the Company by the Trustee or by any Securityholder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (except as otherwise expressly provided herein or, in the case of a request for repayment, as specified in the Security carrying the right to repayment) if in writing and mailed by first class mail, transmitted by facsimile or forwarded by overnight courier to the Company addressed to it at

 

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the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

SECTION 106. Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice to Securityholders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein or in such Security expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Securityholders is given by mail, neither the inadvertent failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Securityholder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Securityholders. Where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Securityholders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or otherwise, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to any Securityholder when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any method of notification as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

 

SECTION 107. Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act through the operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties shall control.

 

SECTION 108. Effect of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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SECTION 109. Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

SECTION 110. Separability Clause. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

SECTION 111. Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar and the Holders of Securities (or such of them as may be affected thereby), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 112. Governing Law. This Indenture shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

SECTION 113. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process. (a) The Company irrevocably consents to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States Federal court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and any appellate court from any thereof, and waives any immunity from the jurisdiction of such courts over any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which the Company is subject by a suit upon such judgment; provided that service of process is effected upon the Company in the manner provided by this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any suit, action or proceeding brought in connection with this Indenture or

 

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the Securities against the Company may be instituted in any competent court in Panama or the Republic of Chile.

 

(b) The Company agrees that service of all writs, process and summonses in any suit, action or proceeding brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities against the Company in any court of the State of New York or any United States Federal court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, may be made upon CT Corporation System at 1633 Broadway, New York, New York 10019, whom the Company irrevocably appoints as its authorized agent for service of process. The Company represents and warrants that CT Corporation System has agreed to act as the Company’s agent for service of process. The Company agrees that such appointment shall be irrevocable so long as any of the Securities remain outstanding or until the irrevocable appointment by the Company of a successor in The City of New York as its authorized agent for such purpose and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. If CT Corporation System shall cease to act as the agent for service of process for the Company, the Company shall appoint without delay another such agent and provide prompt written notice to the Trustee of such appointment. With respect to any such action in any court of the State of New York or any United States Federal court, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, service of process upon CT Corporation System, as the authorized agent of the Company for service of process, and written notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company.

 

(c) Nothing in this Section shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by law or affect the right of any party to bring any action or proceeding against any other party or its property in the courts of other jurisdictions.

 

SECTION 114. Waiver of Immunity. To the extent that the Company or any of its properties, assets or

 

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revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to, or have attributed to it, any right of immunity, on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise, from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief in any thereof, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of any court, from service of process, from attachment upon or prior to judgment, from attachment in aid of execution of judgment, or from execution of judgment, or from other legal process or proceeding for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of any judgment, in any jurisdiction in which the proceedings may at any time be commenced, with respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with this Indenture or the Securities, the Company, to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, and agrees not to plead or claim any such immunity, and consents to such relief and enforcement.

 

SECTION 115. Legal Holidays. In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.

 

SECTION 116. Judgment Currency. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of, or premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of any series (the “Required Currency”) into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which, in accordance with normal banking procedures, the Trustee could purchase the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with

 

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subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 117. Counterparts. This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

ARTICLE TWO

 

Security Forms

 

SECTION 201. Forms Generally. The Securities shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with applicable laws or regulations or with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the person or persons executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities, subject, with respect to the Securities of any series, to the rules of any securities exchange on which such Securities are listed.

 

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SECTION 202. Forms of Securities. Provisions relating to the Securities, if any, of each series and the Exchange Securities, if any, are set forth in Appendix A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. Each Security shall be in the form of Exhibit A-1 or Exhibit A-2 hereto or in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the delivery of a Security to the Trustee for authentication in any form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee the Board Resolution by or pursuant to which such form of Security has been approved, which Board Resolution shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security which has been approved thereby or, if a Board Resolution authorizes a specific person or persons to approve a form of Security, a certificate of such person or persons approving the form of Security attached thereto. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form or a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.

 

SECTION 203. Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication. The form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Trustee,

By:

 

 


   

Authorized Officer

 

SECTION 204. Securities Issuable in the Form of a Global Security. (a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Sections 202 and 301 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued in whole or in part in

 

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the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee or its agent shall, in accordance with Section 303 and the Company Request delivered to the Trustee or its agent thereunder, authenticate and deliver such Global Security or Securities which (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Security or Securities or such portion thereof as the Company shall specify in a Company Request, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee or its agent to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction or retained by the Trustee as custodian for and on behalf of the Depositary and (iv) shall bear a Global Security Legend (as defined in Appendix A).

 

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 204 or of Section 305, but subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) below and Appendix A, unless the terms of a Global Security expressly permit such Global Security to be exchanged in whole or in part for individual Securities, a Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 305, only to a nominee of the Depositary for such Global Security, to the Depositary for such Global Security, to a successor Depositary for such Global Security selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(c) (i) If at any time the Depositary for a Global Security notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities for such series ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Global Security. If a successor Depositary for such Global Security is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company will execute, and the Trustee or its agent, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange

 

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for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver, individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such Global Security.

 

(ii) The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series or portion thereof issued or issuable in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Securities. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Request for the authentication and delivery of individual Securities of such series in exchange in whole or in part for such Global Security, will authenticate and deliver at the Company’s sole cost and expense individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security or Securities representing such series or portion thereof in exchange for such Global Security or Securities.

 

(iii) If an Event of Default under the Securities of any series has occurred and is continuing and all principal of and premium, if any, and accrued interest on such Securities shall have become immediately due and payable as provided by Section 502 and the Trustee has been advised by counsel that in connection with such Event of Default it is necessary or appropriate for the Trustee or the Securityholders to obtain possession of such Securities, the Trustee may, in the reasonable exercise of its discretion, determine that the Securities of such series represented by Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Securities. In such event, the Company agrees to execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver at the Company’s sole cost and expense, in exchange for such Global Securities, individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to

 

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the principal amount of such Global Securities representing such series or portion thereof.

 

(iv) If specified by the Company pursuant to Sections 202 and 301 with respect to Securities issued or issuable in the form of a Global Security or as set forth in Appendix A, the Depositary for such Global Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for individual Securities of such series of like tenor and terms in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or its agent shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge, (1) to each Person specified by such Depositary, a new Security or Securities of the same series of like tenor and terms and of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Global Security; and (2) to such Depositary, a new Global Security of the same series and of like tenor and terms and in an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to the Holders thereof.

 

(v) In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding four paragraphs or in Appendix A, the Company will execute and the Trustee or its agent will authenticate and deliver at the Company’s sole cost and expense individual Securities in definitive registered form in authorized denominations. Upon the exchange of the entire principal amount of a Global Security for individual Securities, such Global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee or its agent. Except as provided in the preceding paragraph or in Appendix A, Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section (1) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or

 

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otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or the Security Registrar and (2) shall bear any legend set forth on such Global Security (other than a legend relating to such Global Security’s status as a Global Security) or which the Company believes is reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law. The Trustee or the Security Registrar shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

 

(d) In the event the Securities are issued as Global Securities with the Depositary (i) the Trustee may deal with the Depositary as the authorized representative of the Holders, (ii) the rights of the Holders shall be exercised only through the Depositary and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Holders and the Depositary and/or direct participants of the Depositary, (iii) the Depositary will make book entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depositary and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants and (iv) the direct participants of the Depositary shall have no rights under this Indenture under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depositary, and the Depositary may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.

 

ARTICLE THREE

 

The Securities

 

SECTION 301. General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered and Outstanding under this Indenture is not limited.

 

The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to an aggregate principal amount of Securities as from time to time may be authorized by the Board of Directors. All Securities of each series under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof with respect to such series without preference, priority or distinction on account of

 

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the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Stated Maturity of the Securities of such series.

 

Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or by or pursuant to an indenture supplemental hereto. The Securities of each such series may bear such date or dates, be payable at such place or places, have such Stated Maturity or Maturities, be issuable at such premium over or discount from their face value, bear interest at such rate or rates (which may be fixed or floating), from such date or dates, payable in such installments and on such dates and at such place or places to the Holders of Securities registered as such on the related Regular Record Dates, or may bear no interest, and may be redeemable or repayable at such Redemption Price or Prices or Repayment Price or Prices, as the case may be, whether at the option of the Holder or otherwise, and upon such terms, all as shall be provided for in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating that series. The Company may from time to time, without the consent of Holders of a series of Securities, issue further securities having terms identical to those of such series of Securities so that any further issue is consolidated and forms a single series with such series of Securities; provided, however, that any Securities issued with original issue discount (“OID”) for Federal income tax purposes shall not be issued as part of the same series of any Securities that are issued with a different amount of OID or are not issued with OID. There may also be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture prior to the issuance of Securities of each such series, provision for:

 

(1) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or other securities or other property, including shares of capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares;

 

(2) a sinking or purchase fund or other analogous obligation;

 

(3) if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) in which the

 

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Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, such Securities shall or may be payable;

 

(4) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(5) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series may be determined with reference to an index based on (i) a currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies (including European Currency Units) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, (ii) changes in the price of one or more other securities or groups or indexes of securities or (iii) changes in the prices of one or more commodities or groups or indexes of commodities, or any combination of the foregoing, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(6) if the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series is to be limited, such limitations;

 

(7) the exchange of Securities of that series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

 

(8) the appointment by the Trustee of an Authenticating Agent in one or more places other than the location of the office of the Trustee with power to act on behalf of the Trustee and subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of any one or more series in connection with such transactions as shall be specified in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the

 

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Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series;

 

(9) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series, if other than the total principal amount thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 504;

 

(10) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein and any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default set forth herein that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Event of Default set forth herein inapplicable to the Securities of that series);

 

(11) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series and any additions, deletions or other changes to the provisions of Article Ten or any definitions relating to such Article that shall be applicable to the Securities of such series (including a provision making any Section of such Article inapplicable to the Securities of such series);

 

(12) the applicability of Article Twelve of this Indenture to the Securities of such series;

 

(13) if the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Global Securities, the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities (if other than the Depositary specified in Section 101 hereof);

 

(14) the subordination of the Securities of such series to any other indebtedness of the Company, including the Securities of any other series;

 

(15) whether such Securities shall be issued as part of a new or existing series of Securities and the title of such Securities (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of another series);

 

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(16) if applicable, that such Securities shall not be issued in the form of Securities set forth in Exhibit A-1 that are subject to Appendix A, but shall be issued in the form of Exchange Securities as set forth in Exhibit A-2; and

 

(17) any other terms of the series, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture,

 

all upon such terms as may be determined in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture with respect to such series. All Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical in tenor and effect, except as to denomination.

 

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner, reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

 

Any terms or provisions in respect of the Securities of any series issued under this Indenture may be determined pursuant to this Section by providing in a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture for the method by which such terms or provisions shall be determined.

 

SECTION 302. Denominations. The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations and currency as shall be provided in the provisions of this Indenture or in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or the supplemental indenture creating such series. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of that series shall be issuable only in U.S. dollars in fully registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

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SECTION 303. Execution, Authentication and Delivery and Dating. The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any two of the following: its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its President, one of its Vice Presidents, its Treasurer, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer or any other officer, employee or agent of the Company duly authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution to execute the Securities. The signature of any of these officers, employees or agents on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

 

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers, employees or agents of the Company shall bind the Company notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication; and the Trustee shall, upon Company Order, authenticate and deliver such Securities as provided in this Indenture and not otherwise.

 

Prior to any such authentication and delivery, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, in addition to any Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required to be furnished to the Trustee pursuant to Section 102, and the Board Resolution and any certificate relating to the issuance of the series of Securities required to be furnished pursuant to Section 202, an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

 

(1) all laws and requirements with respect to the execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities have been complied with, the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities, and such Securities have been duly authorized and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authentication and delivery by the Trustee, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’

 

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rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity) and entitled to the benefits of this Indenture, equally and ratably with all other Securities, if any, of such series Outstanding;

 

(2) the Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act or the Indenture is not required to be so qualified; and

 

(3) such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request;

 

and, if the authentication and delivery relates to a new series of Securities created by an indenture supplemental hereto, also stating that all laws and requirements with respect to the form and execution by the Company of the supplemental indenture with respect to that series of Securities have been complied with, the Company has corporate power to execute and deliver any such supplemental indenture and has taken all necessary corporate action for those purposes and any such supplemental indenture has been executed and delivered and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws and legal principles affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and to general equitable principles, whether applied in an action at law or in equity).

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, all Securities shall be dated the date of their authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that

 

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such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP”, “private placement”, “ISIN” or “Common Code” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee may indicate such numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption and related materials as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and related materials.

 

SECTION 304. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of the documents required by Section 303, together with a Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, without charge to the Holder; and upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver at the Company’s sole expense in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of such series of authorized denominations and of like tenor and terms. Until so exchanged the temporary Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this

 

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Section 304 or Section 305, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.

 

SECTION 305. Registration, Transfer and Exchange. The Company shall keep or cause to be kept a register (herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities, or of Securities of a particular series, and for transfers of Securities or of Securities of such series. Any such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the information contained in such register or registers shall be available for inspection by the Trustee at the office or agency to be maintained by the Company as provided in Section 1002.

 

Subject to Section 204, upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms.

 

Subject to Section 204, at the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Securityholder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the

 

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Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Security to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be made on any Securityholder for any transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may (unless otherwise provided in such Security) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 304 or 906 not involving any registration of transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, registration of transfer of or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except for the portion of such Security not so selected for redemption or (iii) to transfer or exchange any Security between any Regular Record Date and the related Interest Payment Date.

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any agent of the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as Security Registrar for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize any Person to act as Security Registrar in place of the

 

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Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 306. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities. If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor, series, Stated Maturity and principal amount, and bearing a number not contemporaneously Outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

SECTION 307. Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved. Unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 301, interest on any

 

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Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of its having been such Holder; and, except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:

 

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of each such Security at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such

 

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Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

If any installment of interest, the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the Redemption Date for any Security called for redemption pursuant to Article Eleven, is not paid or duly provided for on or prior to the Redemption Date in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section, such interest shall be payable as part of the Redemption Price of such Securities.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

SECTION 308. Taxation. (a) All payments of or in respect of principal, interest and premium, if any, on each Security and all payments to the Trustee under Section 607 shall be made free and clear of, and without withholding or deduction for or on account of, any present or future taxes, penalties, fines, duties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatsoever nature (or interest on any taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatever nature) imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, within or on behalf of Panama or the Republic of Chile or any other jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or engaged in business for tax purposes or, in each case,

 

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any political subdivision or governmental authority of either thereof or therein having power to tax, unless such withholding or deduction is required by law. In that event, the Company shall pay such additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) as may be necessary to ensure that the net amounts received by the Holder of such Security (including Additional Amounts) or the Trustee, as the case may be, after such withholding or deduction shall equal the respective amounts of principal, interest and premium, if any, that would have been receivable in respect of such Security in the case of the Holder, or pursuant to Section 607, in the case of the Trustee, in the absence of such withholding or deduction, except that no such Additional Amounts shall be payable in respect of any Security (i) in the case of payments for which presentation of a Security is required, if such Security is presented for payment more than 30 days after the later of (x) the date on which such payment first became due and (y) if the full amount payable has not been received in the Place of Payment by the Trustee on or prior to such due date, the date on which, the full amount having been so received, notice to that effect shall have been given to the Securityholder by the Trustee, except to the extent that the Securityholder would have been entitled to such Additional Amounts on presenting such Security for payment on the last day of the applicable 30-day period; (ii) for any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or similar tax, duty, fine, assessment or other governmental charge; (iii) held by or on behalf of a Securityholder or beneficial owner who is liable for taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges in respect of such Security by reason of having some present or former, direct or indirect, connection with Panama or the Republic of Chile or any other jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or engaged in business for tax purposes (or any political subdivision or governmental authority of either thereof or therein), as the case may be, other than the mere holding of such Security or the receipt of principal, interest or premium, if any, in respect thereof; or (iv) any combination of (i), (ii) and (iii). In addition, no Additional Amounts shall be paid with respect to any payment to any Securityholder who is a fiduciary or a partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such Securities to the extent that the beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary, the member of such partnership or the beneficial owner of such Securities would not have been entitled to Additional

 

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Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner held such Securities directly. All references in this Indenture to principal, interest, and other amounts payable hereunder shall be deemed to include references to any Additional Amounts payable under this Section with respect to such principal, interest, premium or other amounts. The Company will also (i) make such withholding or deduction and (ii) remit the full amount deducted or withheld to the relevant authority in accordance with applicable law. The Company will furnish to the Securityholders, within 60 days after the date the payment of any Taxes so deducted or withheld is due pursuant to applicable law, either certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such payment by the Company or, if such receipts are not obtainable, other evidence of such payments by the Company reasonably satisfactory to the Securityholders. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Holder (subject to the exclusions set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above) and will upon written request of each Holder (subject to the exclusions set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above), reimburse such Holder for the amount of any taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges of whatever nature levied or imposed by Panama or the Republic of Chile or any other jurisdiction in which the Company is organized or engaged in business for tax purposes, and paid by such Holder as a result of payments made under or with respect to the Notes. Any payment pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence shall also be an Additional Amount.

 

(b) The Company shall promptly pay when due any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies that arise in any jurisdiction from the execution, delivery, or registration of each Security or any other document or instrument relating to the issuance thereof, excluding any such taxes, charges or similar levies imposed by any jurisdiction outside Panama or the Republic of Chile and except as provided in Section 305. The Company shall indemnify and make whole the Holders of Securities for any present or future stamp, court or documentary taxes or any other excise or property taxes, charges or similar levies payable by the Company as provided in this clause (b) paid by such Holders.

 

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(c) At least 10 Business Days prior to the first Interest Payment Date for the Securities of such series, and, if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned certificate, at least 10 Business Days prior to each Interest Payment Date for the Securities of such series, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate instructing the Trustee as to the circumstances in which payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Securities of such series (including Additional Amounts) due on such date shall be subject to deduction or withholding for or on account of any taxes and the rate of any such deduction or withholding. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any other Paying Agents for, and to hold each harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence, bad faith or wilful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with actions taken or not taken by any of them in reliance on any certificate furnished to them pursuant to this paragraph or the failure to furnish any such certificate. The obligations of the Company under the preceding sentence shall survive payment of all the Securities of such series, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the Registrar or any Paying Agent. Any certificate required by this Section to be provided to the Trustee and any other Paying Agent shall be deemed to be duly provided if telecopied to the Trustee and such other Paying Agent. Upon request, the Company shall provide the Trustee with documentation reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee evidencing the payment of taxes in respect of which the Company has paid any Additional Amounts. Copies of such documentation shall be made available by the Trustee to the Holders or the other Paying Agents, as applicable, upon request therefor.

 

SECTION 309. Persons Deemed Owners. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any), and (subject to Section 307) interest on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the

 

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Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

SECTION 310. Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, transfer, conversion or exchange or credit against a sinking fund, if any, shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all cancelled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and upon receipt of a Company order, shall deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company; provided, however, that the Trustee shall not be required to destroy such cancelled Securities.

 

SECTION 311. Computation of Interest. Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 301, interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

SECTION 312. Medium-term Securities. Notwithstanding any contrary provision herein, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary for the Company to deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution, supplemental indenture, Opinion of Counsel or Company Request otherwise required pursuant to Sections 202, 301 and 303 at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered to the Trustee or its agent at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued; provided that any subsequent request by the Company to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series upon original issuance shall constitute a representation and warranty by the Company that as of the date of such request, the statements made in the Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 102 shall be true and correct as if made on such date.

 

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An Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution delivered by the Company to the Trustee in the circumstances set forth in the preceding paragraph may provide that Securities which are the subject thereof will be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or its agent on original issue from time to time upon the written order of Persons designated in such Officers’ Certificate, Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (any such telephonic instructions to be confirmed promptly in writing by such Persons) and that such Persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution, such terms and conditions of said Securities as are specified in such Officers’ Certificate, supplemental indenture or Board Resolution.

 

ARTICLE FOUR

 

Satisfaction and Discharge

 

SECTION 401. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion, transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or in the form of Security for such series), and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

(a) either

 

(1) all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation; or

 

(2) all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation

 

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(i) have become due and payable, or

 

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

 

(iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

 

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee cancelled or for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series hereunder;

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series have been complied with; and

 

(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that payment of amounts deposited in trust with the Trustee as provided in clause (a) hereof will not be subject to future taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, within or on behalf of Panama or the Republic of Chile or any political subdivision or governmental authority of either or in either having power to tax, except to the extent that Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee as provided in clause (a) hereof.

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee with respect to that series under Section 607 shall survive and the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 402 and 1003 shall survive.

 

SECTION 402. Application of Trust Money. All money and obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 or Article Twelve and all money received by the Trustee in respect of such obligations shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the series of Securities in respect of which it was deposited and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money and obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

ARTICLE FIVE

 

Remedies

 

SECTION 501. Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series (to the extent expressly provided in the form of Security for such series) or it is specifically deleted or modified in the supplemental indenture creating such series of Securities or in the form of Security for such series:

 

(1) default in the payment of any principal of the Securities of that series when due and payable, whether at Maturity, upon redemption or otherwise; or

 

(2) default in the payment of any interest or any Additional Amounts when due and payable on any

 

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Security of that series and the continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(3) default in the performance or observance of any other term, covenant, warranty or obligation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Securities of such series or this Indenture, not otherwise expressly defined as an Event of Default in (1) or (2) above, and the continuance of such default for more than 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied; or

 

(4) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries shall default in the payment of principal of, or interest on, any note, bond, coupon or other instrument or agreement evidencing or pursuant to which there is outstanding Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether such Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, having an aggregate principal amount exceeding US$40,000,000 (or its equivalent in any other currency or currencies), other than the Securities of that series, when any such Indebtedness shall become due and payable (whether at maturity, upon redemption or acceleration or otherwise), if such default shall continue for more than the period of grace, if any, originally applicable thereto and the time for payment of such amount has not been expressly extended and such Indebtedness shall have been declared due and payable; or

 

(5) the entry of an order for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any Bankruptcy Law by a court having jurisdiction in the premises or a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a bankrupt or insolvent under any other applicable law, or the entry of a decree or order approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary under any Bankruptcy Law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,

 

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sequestrator (or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law, including a “síndico”) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

 

(6) the consent by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any Bankruptcy Law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official under any Bankruptcy Law, including a “síndico”) of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(7) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.

 

The term “Bankruptcy Law” as used in this Section means the Chilean “Ley de Quiebras” (Law No. 18,175, as amended), the Argentinian “Ley de Concursos y Quiebras” (Law No. 24,522, as amended) or any other applicable law which amends, supplements or supersedes either of the foregoing and any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law of any applicable jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 502. Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (1), (2), (3), (4) or (7) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any series, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal

 

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amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder (each such series acting as a separate class), by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities of such series then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default described in paragraph (5) or (6) of Section 501 occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, the principal amount (or, if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding and all accrued interest thereon shall, without any notice to the Company or any other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of the Securities, become and be immediately due and payable, anything in this Indenture or in the Securities contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to the Securities of any series and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A) all overdue installments of interest on the Securities of such series,

 

(B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of such series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor by the terms of the Securities of such series, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,

 

 

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(C) interest upon overdue installments of interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor by the terms of the Securities of such series, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, and

 

(D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;

 

and

 

(2) all Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities of such series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 513.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 503. Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. The Company covenants that if

 

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable, or

 

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(c) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series,

 

and any such default continues for any period of grace provided with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security (or the Holders of any such series in the case of clause (c) above), the whole amount then due and payable on any such Security (or on the Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above) for principal (and premium, if

 

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any) and interest, with interest, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, at such rate or rates as may be prescribed therefor by the terms of any such Security (or of Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series and collect the money adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

SECTION 504. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and

 

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empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary and advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same;

 

and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official, including a “síndico”) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payment to the Trustee and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan or reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.

 

SECTION 505. Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities. All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities of any series may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities of such series or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the

 

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payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agent and counsel and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 607 herein, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities of the series in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

SECTION 506. Application of Money Collected. Any money collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of such series and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607.

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively.

 

SECTION 507. Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture or the Securities or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

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(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of such series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of all Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 508. Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest. Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 307) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

SECTION 509. Restoration of Rights and Remedies. If the Trustee or any Securityholder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the

 

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Trustee and the Securityholders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

SECTION 510. Rights and Remedies Cumulative. Except as otherwise provided in the last paragraph of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

SECTION 511. Delay or Omission Not Waiver. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders, as the case may be. No waiver of any Event of Default, whether by the Trustee or by the Securityholders, shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event of Default or shall impair any remedy or right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 512. Control by Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series; provided that

 

(a) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, and

 

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(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

SECTION 513. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Section 502, the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default not theretofore cured

 

(a) in the payment of the principal (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the Securities of such series, or

 

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

SECTION 514. Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by its acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit

 

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relates, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date).

 

SECTION 515. Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws. The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE SIX

 

The Trustee

 

SECTION 601. Certain Duties and Responsibilities. (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.

 

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(b) In case an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise with respect to the Securities of such series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;

 

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

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SECTION 602. Notice of Defaults. Within 30 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal (or premium, if any) or interest or Additional Amounts on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series; and provided further that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 501(3) with respect to Securities of such series no such notice to Securityholders of such series shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default”, with respect to Securities of any series, means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 603. Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 601:

 

(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a

 

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matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee shall entitled to receive and (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;

 

(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;

 

(h) the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(i) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless either (1) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have actual knowledge of such event or (2) the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a Holder; and

 

(j) no permissive power or authority available to the Trustee shall be construed as a duty.

 

SECTION 604. Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities. The recitals contained herein, in the Securities, except the certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

SECTION 605. May Hold Securities. The Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

SECTION 606. Money Held in Trust. Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

SECTION 607. Compensation and Reimbursement. The Company agrees:

 

(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances

 

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incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or wilful misconduct; and

 

(c) to indemnify the Trustee and its directors, officers, agents, and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, liability or expense incurred without loss, negligence or wilful misconduct on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities. The obligations of the Company set forth in this Section shall survive the payment in full of all amounts due and owing hereunder and under the Securities, the termination and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.

 

When the Trustee incurs any expenses or renders any services after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) and (6), such expenses and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

 

SECTION 608. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. The Trustee for the Securities of any series issued hereunder shall be subject to the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act during the period of time provided for therein. In determining whether the Trustee has a conflicting interest as defined in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to the Securities of any series, there shall be excluded for purposes of the conflicting interest provisions of such Section 310(b) the Securities of every other series issued under this Indenture. Nothing herein shall prevent the

 

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Trustee from filing with the Commission the application referred to in the second to last paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 609. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Securities, which shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

SECTION 610. Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. (a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 611.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign with respect to any series of Securities at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(c) The Trustee may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by Act of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

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(d) If at any time:

 

(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act pursuant to Section 608 with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months, or

 

(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 with respect to any series of Securities and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder, or

 

(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or

 

(4) the Trustee shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of that series, or in the case of clause (4), with respect to all series, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least 6 months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the series, or, in the case of clause (4), with respect to all series.

 

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities for any cause, the Company, by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such series of Securities shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in

 

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aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Securityholders of such series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months may, on behalf of itself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of that series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

SECTION 611. Acceptance of Appointment by Successor. Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor Trustee shall become effective with respect to any series as to which it is resigning or being removed as Trustee, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to any such series; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee shall, upon payment of its reasonable charges, if any, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the predecessor Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder with respect to

 

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all or any such series, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 607. Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not being succeeded shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.

 

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to that series under this Article.

 

SECTION 612. Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or

 

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consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

SECTION 613. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company. If and when the Trustee shall become a creditor of the Company (or any other obligor upon the securities of any Series), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the TIA regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or any other obligor).

 

SECTION 614. Appointment of Authenticating Agent. At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as an Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and, if other than the Company, subject to supervision or examination by United States Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an

 

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Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and, if other than the Company, to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and, if other than the Company, to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the

 

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Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,

as Trustee

By:

 

 


   

As Authenticating Agent

By:

 

 


   

Authorized Officer

 

ARTICLE SEVEN

 

Securityholders’ Lists and Reports by

 

Trustee and Company

 

SECTION 701. Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

 

(a) semi-annually, not more than 15 days after each Regular Record Date, in each year in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, a list of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of such date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,

 

excluding from any such list names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.

 

SECTION 702. Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders. (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701 and the names and

 

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addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Register. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b) The rights of the Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

SECTION 703. Reports by Trustee. (a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under the Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. To the extent that any such report is required by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any 12-month period, such report shall cover the 12-month period ending May 15 and shall be transmitted by the next succeeding May 15.

 

(b) A copy of each report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

SECTION 704. Reports by Company. The Company will:

 

(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be

 

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required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security of a “foreign private issuer” (as defined in Rule 3b-4 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(c) transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

ARTICLE EIGHT

 

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer

 

SECTION 801. Company May Consolidate, etc., only on Certain Terms. The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:

 

(1) the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation organized and

 

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existing under the laws of the Republic of Chile, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

 

(3) prior to the consummation of such Transaction, the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

SECTION 802. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 801, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company as the predecessor corporation may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.

 

ARTICLE NINE

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

SECTION 901. Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders. Without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures

 

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supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained; or

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company, for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of any or all series (and if such covenants or the surrender of such right or power are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included or such surrenders are expressly being made solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(3) to cure any ambiguity or defect, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture or the Securities or make any other changes herein or therein; or

 

(4) to add to this Indenture such provisions as may be expressly permitted by the TIA, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the TIA as in effect at the date as of which this instrument was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted; or

 

(5) to establish any form of Security, as provided in Article Two, to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities as provided in and subject to the terms of Article Three (including the issuance of further securities having identical terms to the series of any Securities so that the further issue is consolidated and forms a single series with the Securities), to set forth the terms thereof and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of any series; or

 

(6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor

 

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Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to Section 611; or

 

(7) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of the Securities of any or all series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be in respect of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(8) to provide for the issuance of Securities in bearer form, to the extent permitted by law, with coupons as well as fully registered form.

 

No supplemental indenture for the purposes identified in clauses (2), (3), (5) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities in any material respect.

 

SECTION 902. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders. With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series adversely affected thereby,

 

(1) change the Maturity of the principal of, or the Stated Maturity of any premium on, or any installment of interest on, any Security of such series, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest (or Additional Amounts, if any) payable thereon, or change the method of computing the

 

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amount of principal thereof or interest (or Additional Amounts, if any) payable thereon on any date or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security of such Series or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Maturity or the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be); or

 

(2) reduce the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences, provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or Section 1012, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected thereby.

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Securityholders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

SECTION 903. Execution of Supplemental Indentures. In executing or accepting the additional trusts created by any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to

 

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receive, in addition to the documents required by Section 102, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not (except to the extent required in the case of a supplemental indenture entered into under Section 901(4) or 901(6)) be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, indemnities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

SECTION 904. Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby to the extent provided therein.

 

SECTION 905. Conformity with Trust Indenture Act. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

 

SECTION 906. Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures. Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and such Securities may be delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

 

ARTICLE TEN

 

Covenants

 

SECTION 1001. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will

 

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duly comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in, or made in the Indenture for the benefit of, the Securities of such series.

 

SECTION 1002. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the principal Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

SECTION 1003. Money for Security Payments To Be Held in Trust. If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent for any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to so act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, at least one Business Day prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on, any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal (and premium, if any) or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of its action or failure to so act. The Company will cause the bank through which payment of funds to the Paying Agent will be made to deliver to the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m. (New York time) two Business Days prior to the due date of such payment an irrevocable

 

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confirmation (by tested telex or authenticated Swift MT 100 Message) of its intention to make such payment.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any such payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of such series; and

 

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent in respect of each and every series of Securities as to which it seeks to discharge this Indenture or, if for any other purpose, all sums so held in trust by the Company in respect of all Securities, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be

 

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paid to the Company on Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company, as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. The Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company mail to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, a notice that such moneys remain unclaimed and that, after a date specified in the notice, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date on which the notice was first mailed to the Holders of the Securities as to which the money to be repaid was held in trust, any unclaimed balance of such moneys then remaining will be paid to the Company free of the trust formerly impressed upon it.

 

The Company initially authorizes the Trustee to act as Paying Agent for the Securities on its behalf. The Company may at any time and from time to time authorize one or more Persons to act as Paying Agent in addition to or in place of the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities issued under this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1004. Statement as to Compliance. The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company, stating that

 

(1) a review of the activities of the Company during such year and of the Company’s performance under this Indenture and under the terms of the Securities has been made under his supervision; and

 

(2) to the best of his knowledge, based on such review, the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture through such year, or, if there has been a default in the fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him and the nature and status thereof.

 

SECTION 1005. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all

 

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things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and will use its best efforts to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its rights (charter and statutory) and franchises and such rights and franchises of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

SECTION 1006. Limitation on Liens. (a) The Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness, if such Indebtedness is secured by a Lien upon any Specified Property now owned or hereafter acquired, unless, concurrently with the issuance, assumption or guarantee of such Indebtedness, the Securities shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Indebtedness; provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to:

 

(1) any Lien on any property acquired, constructed or improved by the Company or any Subsidiary which is created, incurred or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 360 days after, such acquisition (or in the case of any such property constructed or improved, after the completion or commencement of commercial operation of such property, whichever is later) to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such property or the costs of such construction or improvement (including costs such as escalation, interest during construction and finance costs); provided that in the case of any such construction or improvement the Lien shall not apply to any such property theretofore owned by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than any theretofore unimproved real property on which the property so constructed, or the improvement, is located;

 

(2) any Lien on any property existing at the time of acquisition thereof and which is not created as a result of or in connection with or in anticipation of such acquisition (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the

 

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purchase price of such property and is otherwise permitted by paragraph (1) above);

 

(3) any Lien on any property of a corporation which is merged with or into the Company or a Subsidiary or any Lien existing on property of a corporation which existed at the time such corporation becomes a Subsidiary and, in either such case, which is not created as a result of or in connection with or in anticipation of any such transaction (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such corporation and is otherwise permitted by paragraph (1) above);

 

(4) any Lien which secures only Indebtedness owing by a Subsidiary to the Company, to one or more Subsidiaries or to the Company and one or more Subsidiaries;

 

(5) any Lien existing on the date of the Indenture; and

 

(6) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) through (5), inclusive; provided, however, that the principal amount of Indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property).

 

(b) Notwithstanding clause (a) of this Section or the provisions of Section 1007, the Company or any Subsidiary may issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien which would otherwise be prohibited under the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section or enter into Sale and Lease-Back Transactions that would otherwise be prohibited by Section 1007, provided that the aggregate amount of such Indebtedness of the Company and its Subsidiaries together with the aggregate Attributable Value of all such Sale and Lease-Back Transactions of the Company and its Subsidiaries at any time outstanding shall not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets at the

 

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time any such Indebtedness is issued, assumed or guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or at the time any such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is entered into.

 

SECTION 1007. Limitations on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary may enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Specified Property, unless either (x) the Company or such Subsidiary would be entitled pursuant to Section 1006 to issue, assume or guarantee Indebtedness secured by a Lien on such Specified Property without equally and ratably securing the Securities or (y) the Company or such Subsidiary shall apply or cause to be applied, in the case of a sale or transfer for cash, an amount equal to the net proceeds thereof and, in the case of a sale or transfer otherwise than for cash, an amount equal to the fair market value of the Specified Property so leased, to the retirement, within 360 days after the effective date of such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, of Indebtedness of the Company ranking at least on a parity with the Securities and owing to a Person other than the Company or any Affiliate of the Company or to the construction or improvement of real property or personal property used by the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business. The restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence will not apply to (i) transactions providing for a lease for a term, including any renewal thereof, of not more than five years and (ii) transactions between the Company and a Subsidiary or between Subsidiaries.

 

SECTION 1008. Maintenance of Properties. The Company will cause all tangible properties used or useful in the conduct of its business or the business of any Subsidiary to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working order and supplied with such equipment and will cause to be made such repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof, all as in the judgment of the Company may be reasonably necessary so that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 1008 shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business or the business of

 

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any Subsidiary and not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.

 

SECTION 1009. Maintenance of Insurance. The Company shall maintain, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to maintain, with insurers the Company reasonably believes to be financially sound and reputable, insurance deemed adequate by the Company with respect to its properties and business and the properties and business of its Subsidiaries against loss or damage of the kinds customarily insured against by corporations in the same or similar business and owning and/or operating properties similar to those owned and/or operated by the Company or its Subsidiaries. Such insurance may be subject to co-insurance deductibility or similar clauses which, in effect, result in self-insurance of certain losses, provided that such self-insurance is in accord with the practices of corporation in the same or similar business and adequate insurance reserves are maintained in connection with such self-insurance.

 

SECTION 1010. Maintenance of Books and Records. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, maintain books, accounts and records in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the Republic of Chile or in the applicable jurisdiction.

 

SECTION 1011. Further Assurances. The Company shall, at its own cost and expense, execute and deliver to the Trustee all such other documents, instruments and agreements and do all such other acts and things as may be reasonably required, in the opinion of the Trustee, to enable the Trustee to exercise and enforce its rights under this Indenture and under the documents, instruments and agreements required under this Indenture and to carry out the intent of this Indenture.

 

SECTION 1012. Waiver of Certain Covenants. The Company may omit in respect of any series of Securities, in any particular instance, to comply with any covenant or condition set forth in Sections 1006 and 1007, if before or after the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of such series shall, by Act of such Securityholders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so

 

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expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

ARTICLE ELEVEN

 

Redemption of Securities

 

SECTION 1101. Applicability of Article. The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before Stated Maturity all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 202 and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 301. Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

 

SECTION 1102. Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee. The election of the Company to redeem any Securities redeemable at the election of the Company shall be evidenced by, or made pursuant to authority granted by, a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of any Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed.

 

In the case of any redemption of Securities (i) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (ii) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

SECTION 1103. Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed. If less than all the Securities of like tenor and terms of any series are to be redeemed, the

 

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particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot or such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may include provision for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a particular series of Securities, the portions of the principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Securities of such series, or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount which remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series. If less than all the Securities of unlike tenor and terms of a series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Company.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

SECTION 1104. Notice of Redemption. Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the Security Register.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price;

 

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the

 

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respective principal amounts) of the Securities to be redeemed, from the Holder to whom the notice is given;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security, and that interest, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;

 

(5) the place where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment; and

 

(6) if applicable, that the redemption is on account of a sinking or purchase fund, or other analogous obligation.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s Request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

SECTION 1105. Deposit of Redemption Price. At least one Business Day prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date. The Company will cause the bank through which payment of funds to the Paying Agent will be made to deliver to the Paying Agent by 10:00 a.m. (New York Time) two Business Days prior to the due date of such payment an irrevocable confirmation (be tested telex or authenticated Swift MT 100 Message) of its intention to make such payment.

 

SECTION 1106. Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of Redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Securities for redemption in accordance with the notice, such Securities shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Installments of interest the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the

 

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Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant Regular Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 307.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

SECTION 1107. Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency of the Company in the Place of Payment with respect to that series (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and Stated Maturity and of like tenor and terms, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

SECTION 1108. Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds. Unless the form or terms of any series of Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (2) receive credit for any Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or redeemed by the Company other than through the mandatory sinking fund, and if it does so then (i) Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, and (ii) on or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to such series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (A) an Officers’ Certificate specifying the portions of such sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and by delivery

 

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or credit of Securities of such series acquired by the Company or so redeemed, and (B) such Securities so acquired, to the extent not previously surrendered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also state the basis for such credit and that the Securities for which the Company elects to receive credit have not been previously so credited and were not redeemed by the Company through operation of the mandatory sinking fund, if any, provided with respect to such Securities and shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be cancelled by the Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof.

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Securities made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments with respect to Securities of such series made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Securities, that cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Securities of such series next following the date of such payment to the redemption of Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 1106. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 1103, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to utilize that cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 1104 (and with the effect provided in Section 1106) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment with respect to Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1108. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the Maturity of Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with

 

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other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 1108.

 

SECTION 1109. Optional Redemption in the Event of Change in Tax Treatment. The Securities of any series may be redeemed at the election of the Company, as a whole, but not in part, at any time upon the giving of notice as provided in Section 1104, at the Redemption Price, together with any accrued interest to the Redemption Date, if the Company certifies to the Trustee immediately prior to the giving of such notice that the Company has or will become obligated to pay (x) Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of Panama or any other jurisdiction other than the Republic of Chile in which the Company is organized or engaged in business for tax purposes, or in each case, any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment occurs after the date of issuance of the Securities of such series or (y) Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities in excess of the Additional Amounts that would be payable were payments of interest on the Securities subject to a Chilean 4.0% withholding tax as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws or regulations of the Republic of Chile or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having the power to tax, or any change in the application or official interpretation of such laws or regulations, which change or amendment occurs after the date of issuance of the Securities and, in the case of either (x) or (y), such obligations cannot be avoided by the Company taking reasonable measures available to it; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 60 days prior to the earliest date on which the Company would be obligated to pay such Additional Amounts if a payment in respect of the Securities were then due. Prior to the effective date of any notice of redemption of

 

89


the Securities of such series pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate, stating that the Company is entitled to effect such a redemption pursuant to this Indenture, and setting forth in reasonable detail a statement of the facts giving rise to such right of redemption (together with a written Opinion of Counsel to the effect, among other things, that the Company has become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of a change or amendment described in this Section and that the Company cannot avoid payment of such Additional Amounts by taking reasonable measures available to the Company and that all governmental approvals necessary for the Company to effect such redemption have been obtained and are in full force and effect or specifying any such necessary approvals that as of the date of such opinion have not been obtained).

 

ARTICLE TWELVE

 

Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

 

SECTION 1201. Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, elect to have either Section 1202 or Section 1203 applied to the Outstanding Securities of any series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article Twelve.

 

SECTION 1202. Defeasance and Discharge. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1201 to have this Section 1202 applied to all the Outstanding Securities of any series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions in Section 1204 are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by all the Outstanding Securities of any series and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same) except for the following, which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (a) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1204 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and

 

90


premium, if any, Additional Amounts, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 308, 1002 and 1003, (c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (d) this Article Twelve and the Company’s obligations to the Trustee under Section 607. Subject to compliance with this Article Twelve, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 1202 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 1203.

 

SECTION 1203. Covenant Defeasance. Upon the Company’s exercise of the option provided in Section 1201 to have this Section 1203 applied to all the Outstanding Securities of any series, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1006 and 1007 with respect to such Securities and (ii) the occurrence of an event with respect to such Securities specified in Sections 501(3) (with respect to any of Sections 1006 and 1007), 501(4) or 501(5) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1204 are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such Section or clause, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or clause or by reason of any reference in any such Section or clause to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture, with respect to such Securities and Securities of another series as to which the Company has not elected to have either Section 1202 or 1203 applied, shall be unaffected thereby.

 

SECTION 1204. Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 1202 or Section 1203 to the then Outstanding Securities of the applicable series:

 

(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 609 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article Twelve applicable to it) in trust for the purpose of making the following payments specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of all Outstanding Securities

 

91


of the applicable series, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of an internationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of (and premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) and each installment of interest on the applicable series of Securities on the Stated Maturity of such principal of (and premium, if any, and Additional Amounts, if any) or installment of interest in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such series of Securities.

 

(2) In the case of an election under Section 1202, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable United States Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities with respect to such series of Securities will not recognize gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred.

 

(3) In the case of an election under Section 1203, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of the applicable series will not recognize gain or loss for United States Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times

 

92


as would have been the case if such deposit and covenant defeasance had not occurred.

 

(4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such series of Securities, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as subsections 501(6) and (7) inclusive are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 121st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

 

(6) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 608 and for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any securities of the Company.

 

(7) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that payment of amounts deposited in trust with the Trustee as provided in clause (1) hereof will not be subject to future taxes, duties, fines, penalties, assessments or other governmental charges imposed, levied, collected, withheld or assessed by, within or on behalf of Panama or the Republic of Chile or any political subdivision or governmental authority thereof or therein having power to tax, except to the extent that Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee as provided in clause (1) hereof.

 

(9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under

 

93


Section 1202 or the covenant defeasance under Section 1203, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

(10) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

SECTION 1205. Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. Subject to the provisions of Section 1003, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively, for purposes of this Section, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 1204 in respect of the Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 1204 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the applicable series of Outstanding Securities.

 

Anything in this Article Twelve to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1204 which, in the opinion of an internationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance.

 

Reinstatement. If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 1202

 

94


or 1203 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article Twelve until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 1202 or 1203; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on or Additional Amounts in respect of any Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such series of Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.

 

95


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y

CONSTITUCION S.A., acting

through its Panamanian agency,

by

   
   

/s/ Matías Domeyko


Name: Matías Domeyko

Title: CFO

by

   
   

/s/ Gianfranco Truffello


Name: Gianfranco Truffello

Title: Finance Manager

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as

Trustee

by

   
   

/s/ William Potes


Name: William Potes

Title: Trust Officer

 

96


Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion S.A. represents, acknowledges and agrees that all the obligations of Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion S.A. acting through its Panamanian agency under this Indenture and the Securities are obligations of Celulosa Arauco y Constitucion S.A.

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y

CONSTITUCION S.A.

by

   
   

/s/ Matías Domeyko


Name: Matías Domeyko

Title: CFO

by

   
   

/s/ Gianfranco Truffello


Name: Gianfranco Truffello

Title: Finance Manager

 

97


Appendix A

 

FOR OFFERINGS TO QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS PURSUANT TO

RULE 144A AND TO CERTAIN PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS

IN RELIANCE ON REGULATION S

 

PROVISIONS RELATING TO SECURITIES,

PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

 

1. Definitions

 

1.1 Definitions

 

For the purposes of this Appendix A the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

 

“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Regulation S Global Security or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Depositary for such Global Security, of Euroclear and of Clearstream, in each case to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

 

“Clearstream” means Clearstream Banking, societe anonyme, or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

“Definitive Security” means a certificated Security (bearing the Restricted Securities Legend if the transfer of such Security is restricted by applicable law) that does not include the Global Securities Legend.

 

“Euroclear” means the Euroclear Clearance System or any successor securities clearing agency.

 

“Exchange Securities” means Securities to be issued pursuant to this Indenture (i) in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to a Registration Agreement in exchange for Securities of the same series with interest payable on such Exchange Securities accruing from the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities for which they were exchanged or, if no such interest has been paid, from the date of issuance of the Securities, or (ii) as otherwise set forth in or pursuant to a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto.

 

“Global Securities Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture.


“Initial Purchasers” initial purchasers, underwriters, managers, dealers, agents or other distributors set forth in the Purchase Agreement relating to a particular series of Securities to be issued under the Indenture.

 

“Private Exchange” means an offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Agreement, to issue and deliver to certain purchasers, in exchange for the Securities held by such purchasers as part of their initial distribution, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

 

“Private Exchange Securities” means the Securities to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Private Exchange pursuant to a Registration Agreement in exchange for Securities of the same series with interest payable on such Private Exchange Securities accruing from the last date on which interest was paid on the Securities for which they were exchanged or, if no such interest has been paid, from the date of issuance of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Purchase Agreement” means a purchase, underwriting, subscription or agency agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchasers in respect of the sale and distribution of the Securities of a series.

 

“QIB” means a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A.

 

“Registered Exchange Offer” means an offer by the Company, pursuant to a Registration Agreement, to certain Holders of Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for their Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act.

 

“Registration Agreement” means an agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchasers relating to an offer by the Company to Holders of Securities to exchange such Securities for Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities.

 

“Regulation S” means Regulation S under the Securities Act.

 

2


“Regulation S Securities” means all Securities offered and sold outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S.

 

“Restricted Period”, with respect to any Securities, means the period of 40 consecutive days beginning on and including the later of (i) the day on which such Securities are first offered to persons other than distributors (as defined in Regulation S under the Securities Act) in reliance on Regulation S and (ii) the date on which the closing of the offering thereof occurs.

 

“Restricted Securities Legend” means the legend set forth under that caption in Exhibit A-1 to this Indenture.

 

“Rule 501” means Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 144A” means Rule 144A under the Securities Act.

 

“Rule 144A Securities” means all Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A.

 

“Securities Custodian” means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depositary) or any successor person thereto, which shall initially be the Trustee.

 

“Shelf Registration Statement” means a registration statement filed by the Company in connection with the offer and sale of Securities pursuant to a Registration Agreement.

 

“Transfer Restricted Securities” means Definitive Securities and any other Securities that bear or are required to bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

 

1.2 Other Definitions

 

3


Term:


   Defined in Section:

 

“Agent Members”

   2.1 (b)

“Global Security”

   2.1 (a)

“Regulation S Global Security”

   2.1 (a)

“Rule 144A Global Security”

   2.1 (a)

 

2. The Securities

 

2.1 Form and Dating

 

Securities sold pursuant to a Purchase Agreement by the Company to Initial Purchasers will be resold, initially only to (A) QIBs in reliance on Rule 144A and (B) Persons other than U.S. Persons (as defined in Regulation S) in reliance on Regulation S. Such Securities and any other Securities issued hereunder may thereafter be transferred to any Person, but subject to the restrictions on transfers set forth therein and herein.

 

(a) Global Securities. Each of the Rule 144A Securities and the Regulation S Securities shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent Global Securities (collectively, with respect to any series, the “Rule 144A Global Security” and the “Regulation S Global Security”, respectively) in definitive, fully registered form, in each case without interest coupons and bearing the Global Securities Legend and Restricted Securities Legend, which shall be deposited with the Trustee, at its New York office, as Securities Custodian (or with such other custodian as the Depositary may direct), and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the Depositary. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depositary or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

 

(b) Book-Entry Provisions.

 

Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (“Agent Members”) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Trustee as Securities Custodian or under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be

 

4


treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Agent Members, the operation of customary practices of such Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in any Global Security.

 

(c) Definitive Securities. Except as provided in Section 204, Section 2.3 or this Section 2.1 or as otherwise provided in the Indenture, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Securities.

 

2.2 Exchange Securities and Private Exchange Securities. Exchange Securities shall be issued hereunder only in a Registered Exchange Offer and Private Exchange Securities shall be issued hereunder only in a Private Exchange, in each case, pursuant to a Registration Agreement and for a like principal amount of Securities exchanged pursuant thereto. All Private Exchange Securities and Exchange Securities shall be deemed to be part of and constitute a single series consisting of such Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities and the Securities for which such Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities were exchangeable and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such Exchange Securities, Private Exchange Securities and Securities shall vote together as one series of Securities under this Indenture.

 

2.3 Transfer and Exchange. (a) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities. When Definitive Securities are presented to the Security Registrar with a request:

 

(x) to register the transfer of such Definitive Securities; or

 

(y) to exchange such Definitive Securities for an equal principal amount of Definitive Securities of other authorized denominations,

 

the Security Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange as requested if its reasonable requirements

 

5


for such transaction are met; provided, however, that the Definitive Securities surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange:

 

(i) shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing; and

 

(ii) are being transferred or exchanged pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, pursuant to Section 2.3(b) or pursuant to clause (A), (B) or (C) below, and are accompanied by the following additional information and documents, as applicable:

 

(A) if such Definitive Securities are being delivered to the Security Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security); or

 

(B) if such Definitive Securities are being transferred to the Company, a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security); or

 

(C) if such Definitive Securities are being transferred pursuant to an exemption from registration in accordance with Rule 144 or in reliance on another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, (i) a certification to that effect (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security) and (ii) if the Company or Security Registrar so requests, an opinion of counsel or other evidence reasonably satisfactory to it as to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the legend set forth in Section 2.3(e)(i).

 

(b) Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Security for a Beneficial Interest in a Global Security. A Definitive Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below. Upon receipt by the Trustee of a Definitive Security, duly endorsed or

 

6


accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Trustee, together with:

 

(i) certification (in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security) that such Definitive Security is being transferred (A) to a QIB in accordance with Rule 144A or (B) outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S and in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act; and

 

(ii) written instructions directing the Trustee to make, or to direct the Securities Custodian to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect to such Global Security to reflect an increase in the aggregate principal amount of the Securities represented by the Global Security, such instructions to contain information regarding the Depositary account to be credited with such increase,

 

then the Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Security and cause, or direct the Securities Custodian to cause, in accordance with the standing instructions and procedures existing between the Depositary and the Securities Custodian, the aggregate principal amount of Securities represented by the Global Security to be increased by the aggregate principal amount of the Definitive Security to be exchanged and shall credit or cause to be credited to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security equal to the principal amount of the Definitive Security so canceled. If no Global Securities are then outstanding and the Global Security has not been previously exchanged for individual securities pursuant to Section 204, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate, upon Company Order, a new Global Security in the appropriate principal amount.

 

(c) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities.

 

(i) The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depositary therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver a written order given in accordance with the Depositary’s procedures containing information

 

7


regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Security and such account shall be credited in accordance with such order with a beneficial interest in the Global Security and the account of the Person making the transfer shall be debited by an amount equal to the beneficial interest in the Global Security being transferred. Transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Rule 144A Global Security to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through the Regulation S Global Security, whether before or after the expiration of the Restricted Period, shall be made only upon receipt by the Trustee of a certification from the transferor to the effect that such transfer is being made in accordance with Regulation S or (if available) Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 

(ii) If the proposed transfer is a transfer of a beneficial interest in one Global Security to a beneficial interest in another Global Security, the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and an increase in the principal amount of the Global Security to which such interest is being transferred in an amount equal to the principal amount of the interest to be so transferred, and the Security Registrar shall reflect on its books and records the date and a corresponding decrease in the principal amount of Global Security from which such interest is being transferred.

 

(iii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 204), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

(iv) In the event that a Global Security is exchanged for Securities in definitive registered form pursuant to Section 204, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the sale of a Security pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, such Securities may be transferred or exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with

 

8


the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A, Regulation S or such other applicable exemption from registration under the Securities Act, as the case may be) and such other reasonable procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

 

(d) Restrictions on Transfer of Regulation S Global Security. (i) During the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Security may only be sold, pledged or transferred in accordance with the Applicable Procedures and only (A) to the Company, (B) so long as such security is eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A, to a person whom the transferor reasonably believes is a QIB that purchases for its own account or for the account of a QIB to whom notice is given that the resale, pledge or transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, (C) in an offshore transaction in accordance with Regulation S, (D) pursuant to an exemption from registration under the Securities Act provided by Rule 144 (if applicable) under the Securities Act or (E) pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act, in each case in accordance with any applicable securities laws of any state of the United States. Prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period, transfers by an owner of a beneficial interest in the Regulation S Global Security to a transferee who takes delivery of such interest through the Rule 144A Global Security shall be made only in accordance with Applicable Procedures and upon receipt by the Trustee of a written certification from the transferor of the beneficial interest in the form provided on the reverse of the Security to the effect that such transfer is being made to a person whom the transferor reasonably believes is a QIB within the meaning of Rule 144A in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144A. Such written certification shall no longer be required after the expiration of the Restricted Period.

 

(ii) Upon the expiration of the Restricted Period, beneficial ownership interests in the Regulation S Global Security shall be transferable in accordance with applicable law and the other terms of this Indenture.

 

(e) Legend.

 

9


(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii), (iii), (iv), (vi) or (vii), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities and the Definitive Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a Restricted Securities Legend. Each Definitive Security will also bear the following additional legend:

 

“IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSFER, THE HOLDER WILL DELIVER TO THE SECURITY REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT SUCH CERTIFICATES AND OTHER INFORMATION AS SUCH TRANSFER AGENT MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT THE TRANSFER COMPLIES WITH THE FOREGOING RESTRICTIONS.”

 

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer pursuant to Rule 144 of a Transfer Restricted Security that is a Definitive Security, the Security Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a Definitive Security that does not bear the legends set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security if the Holder certifies in writing to the Security Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

 

(iii) After a transfer of any Securities pursuant to an effective Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, all requirements pertaining to the Restricted Securities Legend on such Securities will cease to apply, and a Global Security without the Restricted Securities Legend will be available to the transferee of the beneficial interests in such Securities. Upon the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee instructing the Trustee to issue Securities without legends.

 

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to any Securities pursuant to which certain Holders of such Securities are offered Exchange Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities) in exchange for their Securities, Exchange Securities (other than Private Exchange

 

10


Securities) in global form without the Restricted Securities Legend will be available to Holders that exchange such Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer. Upon the occurrence of any of the circumstances described in this paragraph, the Company will deliver an Officers’ Certificate to the Trustee instructing the Trustee to issue Securities without the Restricted Securities Legend.

 

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Securities pursuant to which Holders of such Securities are offered Private Exchange Securities in exchange for their Securities, Private Exchange Securities in global form with the Restricted Securities Legend shall be available to Holders that exchange such Securities in such Private Exchange.

 

(vi) Upon a sale or transfer after the expiration of the Restricted Period of any Security acquired pursuant to Regulation S, all requirements that such Security bear the Restricted Securities Legend shall cease to apply and a Security in global form without the Restricted Securities Legend may be issued to the transferee of such Security.

 

(vii) Any Securities sold in a registered offering shall not be required to bear the Restricted Securities Legend.

 

11

EX-4.B 4 dex4b.htm REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT Registration Rights Agreement

Exhibit 4(b)

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.

 

$300,000,000

 

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

 

New York, New York

July 9, 2003

 

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

As Representative of the Initial Purchasers

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., an open stock corporation (sociedad anónima abierta) organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile (the “Company”), acting through its Panamanian agency, proposes to issue and sell to certain purchasers (collectively, the “Initial Purchasers”), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated July 1, 2003 (the “Purchase Agreement”), its 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”) relating to the initial placement of the Securities (the “Initial Placement”). To induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement and to satisfy a condition of your obligations thereunder, the Company agrees with you for your benefit and the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Securities (including the Initial Purchasers) (each a “Holder” and, together, the “Holders”), as follows:

 

1. Definitions. Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the respective meanings set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Affiliate” of any specified person shall mean any other person that, directly or indirectly, is in control of, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified person. For purposes of this definition, control of a person shall mean the power, direct or indirect, to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such person whether


by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

“Broker-Dealer” shall mean any broker or dealer registered as such under the Exchange Act.

 

“Business Day” shall mean each day which is neither a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to be closed.

 

“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Exchange Offer Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the New Securities covered by such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Period” shall mean the 180-day period following the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, exclusive of any period during which any stop order shall be in effect suspending the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

“Exchange Offer Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement of the Company on an appropriate form under the Securities Act with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer, all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments thereto, in each case including the Exchange Offer Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Exchanging Dealer” shall mean any Holder (which may include any Initial Purchaser) that is a Broker-Dealer and elects to exchange for New Securities any Securities that it acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities (but not directly from the Company or any Affiliate of the Company).

 

“Holder” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Indenture” shall mean the Indenture relating to the Securities, dated as of July 9, 2003, between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee, as the same may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

 

“Initial Placement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Initial Purchaser” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6(d) hereof.

 

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“Majority Holders” shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of Securities registered under a Registration Statement.

 

“Managing Underwriters” shall mean the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that shall administer an underwritten offering.

 

“New Securities” shall mean debt securities of the Company identical in all material respects to the Securities (except that the interest rate step-up provisions and the transfer restrictions shall be modified or eliminated, as appropriate) to be issued under the Indenture or the New Securities Indenture.

 

“New Securities Indenture” shall mean an indenture between the Company and the New Securities Trustee, identical in all material respects to the Indenture (except that the interest rate step-up provisions will be modified or eliminated, as appropriate).

 

“New Securities Trustee” shall mean a bank or trust company reasonably satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, as trustee with respect to the New Securities under the New Securities Indenture.

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus included in any Registration Statement (including, without limitation, a prospectus that discloses information previously omitted from a prospectus filed as part of an effective registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Securities Act), as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Securities or the New Securities covered by such Registration Statement, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Purchase Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Registered Exchange Offer” shall mean the proposed offer of the Company to issue and deliver to the Holders of the Securities that are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in such offer, in exchange for the Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of the New Securities.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean any Exchange Offer Registration Statement or Shelf Registration Statement that covers any of the Securities or the New Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, any amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments (in each case including the Prospectus contained therein), all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble hereto.

 

“Shelf Registration” shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 3 hereof.

 

“Shelf Registration Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b) hereof.

 

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“Shelf Registration Statement” shall mean a “shelf” registration statement of the Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 hereof which covers some or all of the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, on an appropriate form under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission, amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference therein.

 

“Trustee” shall mean the trustee with respect to the Securities under the Indenture.

 

“underwriter” shall mean any underwriter of Securities in connection with an offering thereof under a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

2. Registered Exchange Offer. (a) The Company shall prepare and, not later than 180 days following the date of the original issuance of the Securities, shall file with the Commission the Exchange Offer Registration Statement with respect to the Registered Exchange Offer. The Company may, in lieu of such a filing and within the time period provided for such a filing, confidentially submit the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to the Commission; provided that the Company shall promptly provide to the Trustee a copy of the cover letter accompanying such submission; and provided, further, that a confidential submission to the Commission shall not satisfy the Company’s periodic reporting requirements as set forth under the Indenture. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 240 days of the date of the original issuance of the Securities.

 

(b) Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder electing to exchange Securities for New Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company, acquires the New Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder’s business, has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such New Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of a substantial proportion of the several states of the United States.

 

(c) In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i) mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

 

(ii) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 20 Business Days and unless separately agreed in writing, not more than 30 Business Days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or, in each case, longer if required by applicable law);

 

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(iii) use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required, under the Securities Act to ensure that it is available for sales of New Securities by Exchanging Dealers during the Exchange Offer Registration Period;

 

(iv) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan in New York City, which may be the Trustee, the New Securities Trustee or an Affiliate of either of them;

 

(v) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day on which the Registered Exchange Offer is open;

 

(vi) prior to effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, if requested or required by the Commission, provide a supplemental letter to the Commission (A) stating that the Company is conducting the Registered Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the Commission in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988) and Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991); and (B) including a representation that the Company has not entered into any arrangement or understanding with any person to distribute the New Securities to be received in the Registered Exchange Offer and that, to the best of the Company’s information and belief, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer is acquiring the New Securities in the ordinary course of business and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Securities; and

 

(vii) comply in all respects with all applicable laws.

 

(d) As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

 

(i) accept for exchange all Securities tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(ii) deliver to the Trustee for cancelation in accordance with Section 4(s) all Securities so accepted for exchange; and

 

(iii) cause the New Securities Trustee promptly to authenticate and deliver to each Holder of Securities a principal amount of New Securities equal to the principal amount of the Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

 

(e) Each Holder hereby acknowledges and agrees that any such Holder using the Registered Exchange Offer to participate in a distribution of the New Securities (x) could not under Commission policy as in effect on the date of this Agreement rely on the position of the Commission in Morgan Stanley and Co., Inc. (pub. avail. June 5, 1991) and Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (pub. avail. May 13, 1988), as interpreted in the Commission’s letter to Shearman & Sterling dated July 2, 1993 and similar no-action letters; and (y) must comply with the prospectus delivery requirement of the Securities Act in connection with any secondary

 

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resale transaction which must be covered by an effective registration statement containing the selling security holder information required by Item 507 or 508, as applicable, of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act if the resales are of New Securities obtained by such Holder in exchange for Securities acquired by such Holder directly from the Company or one of its Affiliates. Accordingly, each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company that, at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer:

 

(i) any New Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business;

 

(ii) such Holder will have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities or the New Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act; and

 

(iii) such Holder is not an Affiliate of the Company or if it is an Affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and Prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable.

 

(f) If, prior to the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser determines that it is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, at the request of such Initial Purchaser, the Company shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser or the person purchasing New Securities registered under a Shelf Registration Statement as contemplated by Section 3 hereof from such Initial Purchaser, in exchange for such Securities, a like principal amount of New Securities. The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the CUSIP Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP number for such New Securities as for New Securities issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer.

 

3. Shelf Registration. (a) If (i) due to any change in law or applicable interpretations thereof by the Commission’s staff, the Company determines upon advice of its outside counsel that it is not permitted to effect the Registered Exchange Offer as contemplated by Section 2 hereof; (ii) for any other reason the Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 240 days of the date of original issuance of the Securities or the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 270 days of the date of original issuance of the Securities; (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to Securities that are not eligible to be exchanged for New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and that are held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer; (iv) any Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer other than by reason of such Holder being an Affiliate of the Company; or (v) in the case of any Initial Purchaser that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer or acquires New Securities pursuant to Section 2(f) hereof, such Initial Purchaser does not receive freely tradeable New Securities in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment (it being understood that (x) the requirement that an Initial Purchaser deliver a Prospectus containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in exchange for such Securities shall result in such New Securities being not

 

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“freely tradeable”; and (y) the requirement that an Exchanging Dealer deliver an Exchange Offer Prospectus in connection with sales of New Securities acquired in the Registered Exchange Offer in exchange for Securities acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities shall not result in such New Securities being not “freely tradeable”), the Company shall effect a Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with subsection (b) below.

 

(b) (i) The Company shall as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 45-days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 3), file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective under the Securities Act a Shelf Registration Statement relating to the offer and sale of the Securities or the New Securities, as applicable, by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution elected by such Holders and set forth in such Shelf Registration Statement; provided, however, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder; and provided further, that with respect to New Securities received by an Initial Purchaser in exchange for Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment, the Company may, if permitted by current interpretations by the Commission’s staff, file a post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement containing the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in satisfaction of its obligations under this subsection with respect thereto, and any such Exchange Offer Registration Statement, as so amended, shall be referred to herein as, and governed by the provisions herein applicable to, a Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(ii) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Securities Act, in order to permit the Prospectus forming part thereof to be usable by Holders for a period of two years (or if Rule 144(k) is amended to provide a shorter restrictive period, such shorter period) from the date the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities or New Securities, as applicable, covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement (in any such case, such period being called the “Shelf Registration Period”). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its reasonable best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless (A) such action is required by applicable law; or (B) such action is taken by the Company in good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Company’s obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, so long as the Company promptly thereafter complies with the requirements of Section 4(k) hereof, if applicable.

 

4. Additional Registration Procedures. In connection with any Shelf Registration Statement and, to the extent applicable, any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the following provisions shall apply.

 

(a) The Company shall:

 

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(i) furnish to you, not less than two Business Days prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any Shelf Registration Statement, and each amendment thereof and each amendment or supplement, if any, to the Prospectus included therein (including all documents incorporated by reference therein after the initial filing) and shall use its reasonable best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as you reasonably propose;

 

(ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the facing page of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, in Annex B hereto in the forepart of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement in a section setting forth details of the Exchange Offer, in Annex C hereto in the underwriting or plan of distribution section of the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and in Annex D hereto in the letter of transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer;

 

(iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Item 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K, as applicable, in the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; and

 

(iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders that propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling security holders.

 

(b) The Company shall ensure that:

 

(i) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any Prospectus forming part thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;

 

(ii) any Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable for written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder or Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein; and

 

(iii) any Prospectus forming part of any Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement to such Prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable for written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Holder or Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein.

 

(c) The Company shall advise you, the Holders of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement and any Exchanging Dealer under any Exchange Offer Registration Statement that has provided in writing to the Company a telephone or facsimile number and address for notices, and, if requested by you or any such Holder or Exchanging Dealer, shall

 

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confirm such advice in writing (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii) through (v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the Company shall have remedied the basis for such suspension):

 

(i) when a Registration Statement and any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

 

(ii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information;

 

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

 

(iv) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the securities included therein for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose; and

 

(v) of the happening of any event that requires any change in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus so that, as of such date, the statements therein are not misleading and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

 

(d) The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of any Registration Statement or the qualification of the securities therein for sale in any jurisdiction at the earliest possible time.

 

(e) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one copy of such Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated therein by reference, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities covered by any Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus (including each preliminary Prospectus) included in such Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such Holder may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

 

(g) The Company shall furnish to each Exchanging Dealer which so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all material incorporated by reference therein, and, if the

 

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Exchanging Dealer so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including exhibits incorporated by reference therein).

 

(h) The Company shall promptly deliver to each Initial Purchaser, each Exchanging Dealer and each other person required to deliver a Prospectus during the Exchange Offer Registration Period, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as any such person may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer and any such other person that may be required to deliver a Prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the New Securities covered by the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

(i) Prior to the Registered Exchange Offer or any other offering of Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities or the New Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder shall reasonably request provided, however, that in no event shall the Company be obligated (x) to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (y) to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits or to taxation, other than those arising out of the Initial Placement, the Registered Exchange Offer or any offering pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement, in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

 

(j) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing New Securities or Securities to be issued or sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as Holders may request.

 

(k) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by subsections (c)(ii) through (v) above, the Company shall promptly prepare a post-effective amendment to the applicable Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the related Prospectus or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Initial Purchasers of the securities included therein, the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In such circumstances, if the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (c) (i) through (v) of Section (4) above to suspend the use of the Prospectus until the requisite changes to the Prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such Prospectus and the period of effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 2 and the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 3(b) shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of a notice of suspension pursuant to Section 4(c) to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Exchanging Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented Prospectus pursuant to this Section.

 

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(l) Not later than the effective date of any Registration Statement, the Company shall provide a CUSIP number for the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, registered under such Registration Statement and provide the Trustee with printed certificates for such Securities or New Securities, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

 

(m) The Company shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission and shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable after the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(n) The Company shall cause the Indenture or the New Securities Indenture, as the case may be, to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in a timely manner.

 

(o) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of such Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for inclusion in such Registration Statement. The Company may exclude from such Shelf Registration Statement the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

 

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to enter into such agreements (including if requested an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all other necessary actions in order to expedite or facilitate the registration or the disposition of the Securities, and in connection therewith, if an underwriting agreement is entered into, cause the same to contain indemnification provisions and procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 6 (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any) with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to Section 6.

 

(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall:

 

(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of Securities to be registered thereunder, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Registration Statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

 

(ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary

 

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for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

 

(iii) make such representations and warranties to the Holders of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Managing Underwriters, if any) addressed to each selling Holder and the underwriters, if any, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Holders and underwriters;

 

(v) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each selling Holder of Securities registered thereunder and the underwriters, if any, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings; and

 

(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Majority Holders and the Managing Underwriters, if any, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company.

 

The actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at (a) the effectiveness of such Registration Statement and each post-effective amendment thereto; and (B) each closing under any underwriting or similar agreement as and to the extent required thereunder.

 

(r) In the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall, to the extent requested by the Initial Purchasers:

 

(i) make reasonably available for inspection by such Initial Purchaser, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by such Initial Purchaser, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information

 

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shall be kept confidential by the Holders or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

 

(ii) cause the Company’s officers, directors and employees to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent in connection with any such Registration Statement as is customary for similar due diligence examinations; provided, however, that any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery of such information shall be kept confidential by such Initial Purchaser or any such attorney, accountant or agent, unless such disclosure is made in connection with a court proceeding or required by law, or such information becomes available to the public generally or through a third party without an accompanying obligation of confidentiality;

 

(iii) make such representations and warranties to such Initial Purchaser, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in primary underwritten offerings and covering matters including, but not limited to, those set forth in the Purchase Agreement;

 

(iv) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and updates thereof (which counsel and opinions (in form, scope and substance) shall be reasonably satisfactory to such Initial Purchaser and its counsel, addressed to such Initial Purchaser, covering such matters as are customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel;

 

(v) obtain “cold comfort” letters and updates thereof from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other independent certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to such Initial Purchaser, in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in “cold comfort” letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, or if requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel in lieu of a “cold comfort” letter, an agreed-upon procedures letter under Statement on Auditing Standards No. 35, covering matters requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel; and

 

(vi) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by such Initial Purchaser or its counsel, including those to evidence compliance with Section 4(k) and with conditions customarily contained in underwriting agreements.

 

The foregoing actions set forth in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), and (vi) of this Section shall be performed at the close of the Registered Exchange Offer and the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

 

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(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the New Securities, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on the Securities so exchanged that such Securities are being canceled in exchange for the New Securities. In no event shall the Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

 

(t) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts (i) if the Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Securities, to confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement; or (ii) if the Securities were not previously rated, to cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with at least one nationally recognized statistical rating agency, if so requested by Majority Holders with respect to the related Registration Statement or by any Managing Underwriters.

 

(u) In the event that any Broker-Dealer shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or “assist in the distribution” (within the meaning of the Rules of Fair Practice and the By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, assist such Broker-Dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules and By-Laws, including, without limitation, by:

 

(i) if such Rules or By-Laws shall so require, engaging a “qualified independent underwriter” (as defined in such Rules) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement, to exercise usual standards of due diligence with respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities;

 

(ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 6 hereof; and

 

(iii) providing such information to such Broker-Dealer as may be required in order for such Broker-Dealer to comply with the requirements of such Rules.

 

(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities or the New Securities, as the case may be, covered by a Registration Statement.

 

5. Registration Expenses. The Company shall bear all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 2, 3 and 4 hereof and, in the event of any Shelf Registration Statement, will reimburse the Holders for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm or counsel designated by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders in connection therewith, and, in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel acting in connection therewith.

 

14


6. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer), the directors, officers, employees and agents of each such Holder and each person who controls any such Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any such Holder or Initial Purchaser specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have. The foregoing indemnity with respect to any preliminary Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder of Securities or New Securities (or to the benefit of any person controlling such Holder) if (i) such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such preliminary Prospectus is eliminated or remedied in a final Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) and (ii) the Company shall have delivered to each such Holder in a timely manner as many copies of such final Prospectus as such Holder shall reasonably request.

 

The Company also agrees to indemnify or contribute as provided in Section 6(d) to Losses of each underwriter of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, registered under a Shelf Registration Statement, their directors, officers, employees or agents and each person who controls such underwriter on substantially the same basis as that of the indemnification of the Initial Purchasers and the selling Holders provided in this Section 6(a) and shall, if requested by any Holder, enter into an underwriting agreement reflecting such agreement, as provided in Section 4(p) hereof.

 

(b) Each Holder of securities covered by a Registration Statement (including each Initial Purchaser and, with respect to any Prospectus delivery as contemplated in Section 4(h) hereof, each Exchanging Dealer) severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs such Registration Statement and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each such Holder, but only with reference to written information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion in the

 

15


documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any such Holder may otherwise have.

 

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses; and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest; (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party; (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action; or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (x) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, then each applicable indemnifying party shall have a joint and several obligation to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively “Losses”) to which such indemnified party may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, from the Initial Placement and the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses; provided, however, that in no case shall any Initial Purchaser or any subsequent Holder

 

16


of any Security or New Security be responsible, in the aggregate, for any amount in excess of the purchase discount or commission applicable to such Security, or in the case of a New Security, applicable to the Security that was exchangeable into such New Security, nor shall any underwriter be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the securities purchased by such underwriter under the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of such indemnifying party, on the one hand, and such indemnified party, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the sum of (x) the net proceeds set forth in the Final Memorandum under the caption “Use of Proceeds” and (y) the total amount of additional interest which the Company was not required to pay as a result of registering the securities covered by the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Benefits received by the Initial Purchasers shall be deemed to be equal to the difference between the issue price of the Securities as set forth on the cover of the Final Memorandum and the amount paid for the Securities by the Initial Purchasers as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. Benefits received by any underwriter shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement which resulted in such Losses. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided by the indemnifying party, on the one hand, or by the indemnified party, on the other hand, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section, each person who controls a Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of such Holder shall have the same rights to contribution as such Holder, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

(e) The provisions of this Section will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder or the Company or any of the directors, officers, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in this Section hereof, and will survive the sale by a Holder of Securities or New Securities covered by a Registration Statement.

 

17


7. Underwritten Registrations. (a) If any of the Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, covered by any Shelf Registration Statement are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the Managing Underwriters shall be selected by the Majority Holders.

 

(b) No person may participate in any underwritten offering pursuant to any Shelf Registration Statement, unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person’s Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements; and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

 

8. No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

 

9. Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, unless the Company has obtained the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding aggregate principal amount of Securities (or, after the consummation of any Registered Exchange Offer in accordance with Section 2 hereof, of New Securities); provided that, with respect to any matter that directly or indirectly affects the rights of any Initial Purchaser hereunder, the Company shall obtain the written consent of each such Initial Purchaser against which such amendment, qualification, supplement, waiver or consent is to be effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing (except the foregoing proviso), (i) a waiver or consent to departure from the provisions hereof with respect to a matter that relates exclusively to the rights of Holders whose Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, are being sold pursuant to a Registration Statement and that does not directly or indirectly affect the rights of other Holders may be given by the Majority Holders, determined on the basis of Securities or New Securities, as the case may be, being sold rather than registered under such Registration Statement and (ii) this Agreement may be amended, qualified, modified or supplemented to cure any ambiguity or defect, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement or the Securities or make any other changes herein or therein in a manner which would not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities.

 

10. Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery:

 

(a) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company in accordance with the provisions of this Section, which address initially is, with respect to each Holder, the address of such Holder maintained by the Registrar under the Indenture, with a copy in like manner to J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

 

18


(b) if to you, initially at the respective address set forth in the Purchase Agreement; and

 

(c) if to the Company, initially at its address set forth in the Purchase Agreement.

 

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when received.

 

The Initial Purchasers or the Company by notice to the other parties may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

11. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties, including, without the need for an express assignment or any consent by the Company thereto, Holders of Securities and the New Securities. The Company hereby agrees to extend the benefits of this Agreement to any Holder of Securities and the New Securities, and any such Holder may specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement as if an original party hereto, provided that such Holder shall be conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this Agreement.

 

12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be in signed counterparts, each of which shall an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

13. Headings. The headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed in the State of New York.

 

15. Severability. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions hereof shall not be in any way impaired or affected thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges of the parties shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

16. Securities Held by the Company and its Affiliates. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities or New Securities is required hereunder, Securities or New Securities, as applicable, held by the Company or its Affiliates shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

 

17. Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities. By the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has, by separate written instrument, irrevocably designated and appointed CT Corporation (and any successor entity), as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement that may be instituted in any federal or state court in

 

19


the State of New York or brought under federal or state securities laws, and acknowledges that CT Corporation has accepted such designation, (ii) submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon CT Corporation and written notice of said service to the Company shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of CT Corporation in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding. To the extent that the Company may have or acquire any immunity from jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution, execution or otherwise) with respect to itself or its property, it hereby irrevocably waives such immunity in respect of this Agreement, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

20


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Initial Purchasers.

 

Very truly yours,

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.,

acting through its Panamanian agency,

By

    
    

        /s/ Matías Domeyko


    

Name: Matías Domeyko

    

Title: CFO

By

    
    

        /s/ Gianfranco Truffello


    

Name: Gianfranco Truffello

    

Title: Finance Manager

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and

accepted as of the date first above written.

 

By:

 

    J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

   

    Acting on behalf of itself and the

    several Initial Purchasers

By:

 

/s/ Wendi G. Royal


   

Name: Wendi G. Royal

   

Title: Vice President

 

21


Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. represents, acknowledges and agrees that all the obligations of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency, under this Agreement are obligations of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.,

By

    
    

        /s/ Matías Domeyko


    

Name: Matías Domeyko

    

Title: CFO

By

    
    

        /s/ Gianfranco Truffello


    

Name: Gianfranco Truffello

    

Title: Finance Manager

 

22


ANNEX A

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date (as defined herein) and ending on the close of business 180-days after the Expiration Date it will make this Prospectus available upon request to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

 

23


ANNEX B

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, where such Securities were acquired by such Broker-Dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. See “Plan of Distribution”.

 

 

24


ANNEX C

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Each Broker-Dealer that receives New Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of New Securities received in exchange for Securities where such Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business one year after the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available upon request to any Broker-Dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 20 , [90 days after the effectiveness of the registration statement] all dealers effecting transactions in the New Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.

 

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Securities by brokers-dealers. New Securities received by Broker-Dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the New Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such Broker-Dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Securities. Any Broker-Dealer that resells New Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Securities may be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit resulting from any such resale of New Securities and any commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a Broker-Dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

For a period of 180-days after the Expiration Date, the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any Broker-Dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the holders of the Securities (including any Broker-Dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

[If applicable, add information required by Regulation S-K Items 507 and/or 508. S-K 502(b) legend must appear on the back cover.]

 

25


ANNEX D

 

Rider A

 

/    /    CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.
     Name:   

 


     Address:   

 


 

Rider B

 

If the undersigned is not a Broker-Dealer, the undersigned represents that it acquired the New Securities in the ordinary course of its business, it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of New Securities and it has no arrangements or understandings with any person to participate in a distribution of the New Securities. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer that will receive New Securities for its own account in exchange for Securities, it represents that the Securities to be exchanged for New Securities were acquired by it as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

26

EX-5.A 5 dex5a.htm OPINION OF SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT Opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett

Exhibit 5(a)

 

 

October 2, 2003                                

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

Avenida El Golf 150, Fourteenth Floor

Los Condes

Santiago, Chile

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima abierta organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile (“Chile”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company, acting through its Panamanian agency, of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Securities”). The Exchange Securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”) between the Company, acting through its Panamanian agency, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Exchange Securities will be offered by the Company in exchange for $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”).

 

We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates


-2-

 

 

or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

 

We have assumed further that (1) the Company is validly existing under the laws of Chile, (2) the Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered the Indenture in accordance with its estatutos and other organizational documents and the laws of Chile and the laws of the Republic of Panama (“Panama”), (3) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture and the Securities do not and will not violate the laws of Chile or Panama or any other applicable laws (except that no assumption is taken with respect to the law of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States) and (4) the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Indenture and the Securities do not and will not constitute a breach or violation of any agreement or instrument that is binding upon the Company.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that, when the Exchange Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture upon the exchange, the Exchange Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

Our opinion set forth above is subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and (iv) to the effects of the possible judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental or judicial action affecting creditors’ rights.

 

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United States. We understand that you will be relying on (i) the opinion of Portaluppi Guzmán y Bezanilla, Chilean counsel for the Company, with respect to all matters governed by the laws of Chile and (ii) the opinion of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman, Panamanian counsel to the


-3-

 

 

Company, with respect to all matters governed by the laws of Panama, in each case dated and delivered on the date hereof.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption Legal Matters in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

 

Very truly yours,

/S/    SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP


SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT LLP

EX-5.B 6 dex5b.htm OPINION OF PORTALUPPI, GUZMAN Y BEZANILLA Opinion of Portaluppi, Guzman y Bezanilla

Exhibit 5(b)

 

 

Santiago, October 2, 2003

 

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

Avenida El Golf 150, Fourteenth Floor

Los Condes

Santiago, Chile

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as Chilean counsel to Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima abierta organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile (“Chile”)in connection with the Registration Statement on Form F-4 (the “Registration Statement”) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, relating to the issuance by the Company, acting through its Panamanian agency, of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Securities”). The Exchange Securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”) between the Company, acting through its Panamanian agency, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Exchange Securities will be offered by the Company in exchange for $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”).

 

We have examined the Registration Statement and the Indenture, which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also have examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such corporate records, agreements, documents and other instruments and have made such


2

 

 

other investigations as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions hereinafter set forth. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied upon certificates or comparable documents of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company.

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that the Indenture is the valid and legally binding obligation of the Trustee.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1)  The Company has full power and authority to perform its obligations under the offering of the Exchange Securities, and has taken all necessary corporate action to authorize the issuance, execution and delivery of the Exchange Securities.

 

2)  When the Exchange Securities have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture upon the exchange, the Exchange Securities will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

The above opinion is subject to the following qualifications:

 

Money judgments against the Company of any New York State or Federal court sitting in New York City (the “New York Courts”) will, in each such case, be recognized, conclusive and enforceable in the courts of Chile without reconsideration of the merits of such judgment, in the following situations:


3

 

 

(a)  if there is a treaty in force between the Republic of Chile and the United States of America with respect to the enforcement of foreign judgments, the provisions of such treaty, would be applied. At the date hereof, there is no such treaty in force between the Republic of Chile and the United States of America;

 

(b)  in the absence of any such treaty, if there is reciprocity as to the enforcement of judgments (i.e., the relevant New York Court would enforce a comparable judgment of a Chilean court in comparable circumstances); and

 

(c)  if reciprocity between the relevant New York Court and the Republic of Chile as aforesaid could not be proven, if enforcement of such judgment is not contrary to the public policy of the Republic of Chile and was not rendered by default within the meaning of Chilean law.

 

We are of the opinion that such final judgment of the relevant New York Court will not be considered to be rendered by default if personal service of process is made on an agent for service of process in the State of New York, assuming such service of process is valid under the laws of New York, except that as a defense to the enforcement of any such a judgment in Chile the Company may prove that because of circumstances beyond its control it was prevented from asserting defenses available to it before the court rendering such judgment. In all events, the judgment must comply with international standards. We are of the opinion that such a judgment will comply with such international standards if the following conditions are met:

 

(1)  The relevant New York Court rendering the judgment had jurisdiction under the laws of New York over the Company, and the subject matter of the suit;

 

(2)  the judgment is enforceable and final in the relevant New York Court;


4

 

 

(3)  the Company (or its agent for service of process) received due notice of the suit (assuming such service of process is itself valid under the laws of New York) and was afforded an opportunity to defend in such suit;

 

(4)  the document evidencing such judgment has been duly legalized by the Chilean consul in New York; and

 

(5)  the text of such judgment has been duly translated into Spanish by a sworn public translator in Chile.

 

Assuming such a final judgment rendered by a relevant New York Court complied with the standards set forth in this Paragraph and in the absence of any condition referred to above which would render such foreign judgment unenforceable, such judgment is enforceable in Chile by means of special proceedings for the enforcement of a foreign final judgment under the laws of Chile.

 

With respect to the principles of Chilean public policy referred to above, assuming that payments of commissions, compensations or indemnities and reimbursement of costs and expenses represent usual conditions prevailing in the relevant financial markets, we are of the opinion that a Chilean court would not find any provision of the Indenture or the Exchange Securities, with respect to such payments and reimbursements to be violative of principles of Chilean public policy unless the application in any particular case of a provision of the Indenture or the Exchange Securities, to make a unilateral determination as to amounts owed on account of indemnities or reimbursements would, in the judgment of the court, result in a recovery by the plaintiff so arbitrary and unreasonable as to be considered contrary to basic and fundamental principles of the Chilean legal system.

 

We express no opinion as to the enforceability in Chile of a foreign judgment against the Company, obtained in any court other than a relevant New York Court nor


5

 

 

as to the enforceability in Chile of a monetary judgment for violations of the United States of America Securities laws with respect to the Securities.

 

In rendering this opinion, we have (A) without any independent investigation, assumed the correctness of, as to matters of United States Federal and New York State law, the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, and with respect to all matters governed by the laws of Panama, the opinion of Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán, Panamanian counsel to the Company, in each case dated and delivered on the date hereof; (B) without any independent investigation, assumed the correctness of, as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the Republic of Chile, the United States and the State of New York, to the extent we deem proper and to the extent specified in this opinion, if at all, an opinion or opinions of other counsel, familiar with the applicable laws; and (C) relied as to matters of fact, to the extent that we have deemed proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and certificates or other written statements of officials of jurisdictions having custody of relevant documents.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption Legal Matters in the Prospectus included in the Registration Statement.

 

Very truly yours,

 

PORTALUPPI, GUZMAN Y BEZANILLA

 

/s/ Juan Francisco Guzmán Rencoret

 

Juan Francisco Guzmán Rencoret

EX-5.C 7 dex5c.htm OPINION OF ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN Opinion of Icaza, Gonzalez-Ruiz & Aleman

Exhibit 5 (c)

 

 

(LETTERHEAD OF ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN)

 

 

October 2, 2003

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

Avenida El Golf 150, Fourteenth Floor

Los Condes

Santiago, Chile

 

 

Gentlemen and Ladies:

 

We have acted as counsel to Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (the “Company”), a sociedad anónima abierta organized under the laws of the Republic of Chile (“Chile”) in connection with the Registration Statement relating to the issuance by the Company of $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”). The Securities will be issued under an indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”) between the Company, acting through its Panamanian agency, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Securities will be offered by the Company in exchange for $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Securities”).

 

In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the Indenture, dated as of July 9, 2003 and the Form F-4 Registration Statement, and originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such other instruments and other certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other persons, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for the opinions expressed below.

 

In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies of the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.


Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions and limitations stated herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

(i)  the Company has been duly registered as a foreign corporation under the laws of Republic of Panama (“Panama”);

 

(ii)  under the laws of Panama, the capacity, power and legal right of the Company to: (a) own its properties and conduct its business; (b) execute and deliver the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Securities to perform the provisions of the Registration Statement and the Indenture; and (c) issue the Securities;

 

(iii)  under Panamanian law, the Company and the Panama branch are the same legal entity and all obligations of the Company, acting through its Panamanian branch, under the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Securities are obligations of the Company and are enforceable against the Company, whether or not the Company continues to be registered as a foreign corporation under the laws of Panama;

 

(iv)  under Panamanian law, the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities are governed by the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company and by the laws governing the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Securities, respectively;

 

(v)  the execution, issue, delivery and performance of the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Securities by the Company, the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and the compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions thereof do not contravene any published law, rule or regulation or public policy of Panama applicable to the Company or conflict with or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any existing published order or decree of any governmental authority or agency of Panama applicable to the Company;

 

(vi)  neither the execution, delivery or performance of any of the Registration Statement, the Indenture or the Securities nor the consummation or performance of any of the transactions contemplated thereby by the parties thereto requires the consent, approval (including exchange control approval), decision, license, filing, registration or notarization of or with any Panamanian governmental or judicial authority or agency;

 

(vii)  no stamp duties or any other taxes or similar charges are or will be payable under the laws of Panama in respect of the creation, offering, issue or delivery of the Securities or the execution and delivery of the Indenture, except that stamp tax consisting of  1/10% of 1% of the principal amount shown on the face of the document the enforcement or admissibility into evidence of which is sought in Panama is payable for the pleading or admission into evidence of any of the Indenture or the Securities within the jurisdiction of Panama;


In rendering these opinions, we have assumed the correctness of, as to matters of United States federal and New York State law, upon the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP; (B) without any independent investigation, assume the correctness of, as to matters of Chilean law, the opinion of Portaluppi Guzmán y Bezanilla; and (c) rely as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and certificates or other written statements of officials of jurisdictions having custody of relevant documents.

 

We are Panamanian lawyers, and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the Panamanian law.

 

 

    Very truly yours,
ICAZA, GONZALEZ-RUIZ & ALEMAN
   

/S/    RODOLFO R. CHIARI C.

   

Rodolfo R. Chiari C.

 

RRCHC/ar

EX-12 8 dex12.htm COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNING TO FIXED CHARGES Computation of Ratio of Earning to Fixed Charges

Exhibit 12

 

US GAAP

 

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

 

     Year ended December 31,

  

Six Months ended

June 30,


     1998

   1999

   2000

   2001

   2002

   2002

   2003

     (thousands of US dollars)

Earnings

                                  

Pre-Tax earnings

   81,262    277,694    397,378    192,649    336,638    152,897    242,884

Interest expense

   76,008    51,526    62,201    62,362    61,692    33,732    23,624

Income from equity investment

   1,141    4,829    1,377    1,463    2,558    1,094    1,759

Total earnings

   158,411    334,049    460,956    256,474    400,888    187,723    268,267

Fixed charges

                                  

Interest expense

   76,008    51,526    62,201    62,362    61,692    33,732    23,624

Capitalized interest

   26,114    31,393    34,027    46,053    53,987    24,316    29,387

Bond discount and issue costs amortization

   1,792    1,792    2,035    3,568    3,613    1,165    1,128

Total fixed charges

   103,914    84,711    98,263    111,983    119,292    59,213    54,139

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

   1.5    3.9    4.7    2.3    3.4    3.2    5.0
EX-15 9 dex15.htm PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS AWARENESS LETTER PriceWaterhouseCoopers Awareness Letter

Exhibit 15

 

 

 

 

 

 

October 2, 2003

 

 

Securities and Exchange Commission

450 Fifth Street, N.W.

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Commissioners:

 

We are aware that our report dated August 8, 2003 on our review of the interim financial statements of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. as of June 30, 2003 and for the six-month periods ended June 30, 2003 and 2002 is included in the Company’s Registration Statement on Form F-4 dated October 2, 2003.

 

 

 

 

Yours very truly,

 

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers

EX-23.A 10 dex23a.htm CONSENT OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers

Exhibit 23(a)

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

 

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form F-4 of our report dated March 7, 2003 relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedules, which appears in Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2002. We also consent to the reference to us under the heading “Independent Accountants” in such Registration Statement.

 

Santiago, Chile

October 2, 2003

EX-25 11 dex25.htm STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY OF JPMORGAN CHASE BANK TO ACT AS TRUSTEE Statement of Eligibility of JPMorgan Chase Bank to act as trustee

Exhibit 25

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY

UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF

A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 


 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF

A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

 


 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

New York   13-4994650

(State of incorporation

if not a national bank)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification No.)

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York

  10017
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

William H. McDavid

General Counsel

270 Park Avenue

New York, New York 10017

Tel: (212) 270-2611

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 


 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

 

The Republic of Chile   Not Applicable

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. employer

identification No.)

 

Avenida El Golf 150

Fourteenth Floor

Santiago, Chile

   
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 


 

5.125% Notes due 2013

(Title of the indenture securities)

 



GENERAL

 

Item 1. General Information.

 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York 12110.

 

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C. 20551.

 

Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street, New York, New York 10045.

 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C. 20429.

 

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with the Obligor and Guarantors.

 

If the obligor or any Guarantor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

Items 3 – 15.

 

Items 3 – 15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee’s knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.


Item 16. List of Exhibits

 

List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of Eligibility.

 

1. A copy of the Restated Organization Certificate of the Trustee dated March 25, 1997 and the Certificate of Amendment dated October 22, 2001 (see Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference).

 

2. A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

 

3. None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

 

4. A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-76894, which is incorporated by reference).

 

5. Not applicable.

 

6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act (see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference). On November 11, 2001, in connection with the merger of The Chase Manhattan Bank and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York, the surviving corporation was renamed JPMorgan Chase Bank.

 

7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee, published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.

 

8. Not applicable.

 

9. Not applicable.

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, JPMorgan Chase Bank, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York and State of New York, on the 1st day of October, 2003.

 

   

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By

 

/s/ William Potes


   

William Potes

Trust Officer


CONSENT

 

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, JPMORGAN CHASE BANK hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Dated: October 1, 2003

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK

By:

 

/s/ William Potes


   

William Potes

Trust Officer

EX-99.1 12 dex991.htm FORM OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL Form of Letter of Transmittal

Exhibit 99.1

 

CELULOSA ARAUCO Y CONSTITUCIÓN S.A.

(acting through its Panamanian agency)

 

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

 

Offer to Exchange its

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

(Registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended)

For Any and All of its Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

Pursuant to the Prospectus dated October     , 2003

 

The Registered Exchange Offer and Withdrawal Period Will Expire at Midnight, New York City Time,

on November     , 2003, Unless Extended (the “Expiration Date”)

 

The Exchange Agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the Exchange Offer is:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

 

By Mail or Overnight Delivery:

  By Facsimile:   By Hand Delivery:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

 

(for Eligible Institutions only)

(212) 623-6216

Attention: William Potes

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

   

Confirm by Telephone:

(212) 623-5136

   

 

DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE TO A NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE VALID DELIVERY.

 

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning given them in the Prospectus (as defined below).

 

This Letter of Transmittal is being furnished by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency (the “Company”) in connection with its offer to exchange its 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Restricted Notes”), that were issued and sold in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), under an Indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”), for a


like amount of its newly issued 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Notes”) that have been registered under the Act. The Company has prepared and delivered to holders of the Restricted Notes a Prospectus dated October     , 2003 (the “Prospectus”). The Prospectus, this Letter of Transmittal and the related materials together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”).

 

For each Restricted Note accepted for exchange, the holder will receive an Exchange Note having a principal amount equal to that of the surrendered Restricted Note. The Exchange Notes will bear interest from the most recent date to which interest has been paid on the Restricted Notes, or if no interest has been paid, from July 9, 2003. Accordingly, registered holders of Exchange Notes on the relevant record date for the first interest payment date following completion of the exchange offer will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from July 9, 2003. Restricted Notes accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of completion of the Exchange Offer. Holders whose Restricted Notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment of interest on the Restricted Notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date the record date for which occurs after completion of the exchange offer.

 

The exchange offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003 (the “Expiration Date”) unless extended, in which case the term “Expiration Date” shall mean the last time and date to which the exchange offer is extended.

 

This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by a holder (a) if certificates representing Restricted Notes are to be physically delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith by the holder, (b) if tender of Restricted Notes is to be made by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through the DTC Automated Tender Offer Program (“ATOP”), and an Agent’s Message (as defined below) is not delivered as provided in the next paragraph, or (c) if tenders are to be made according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the prospectus under “The Exchange Offer – Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

 

Holders of Restricted Notes who wish to tender but whose certificates are not immediately available, or who are unable to deliver their certificates (or confirmation of the book-entry transfer of their Restricted Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC) and all other documents required hereby to the Exchange Agent before the Expiration Date, must tender their Restricted Notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in “The Exchange Offer – Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” in the Prospectus. See Instructions 1 and 4. Holders of Restricted Notes who are tendering by book-entry transfer to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC can execute their tender through ATOP. DTC participants that are accepting the exchange offer must transmit their acceptance to DTC, which will verify the acceptance and execute a book-entry delivery to the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC. DTC will then send an Agent’s Message (as defined below) to the Exchange Agent for its acceptance. Delivery of the Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the exchange offer in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant(s) identified in the Agent’s Message. Accordingly, this Letter of Transmittal need not be completed by a holder tendering through ATOP. As used herein, the term “Agent’s Message” means, with respect to any tendered Restricted Notes, a message transmitted by DTC to and received by the Exchange Agent and

 

2


forming part of a book-entry confirmation, stating that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from each tendering participant to the effect that, with respect to those Restricted Notes, the participant has received and agrees to be bound by this Letter of Transmittal and that the Company may enforce this Letter of Transmittal against the participant. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.

 

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THE BOOK-ENTRY CONFIRMATION OR CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, WE RECOMMEND USING REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE DELIVERY PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

3


PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING ANY BOX BELOW. THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED. QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AT (212) 623-5136 OR AT ITS ADDRESS SET FORTH ABOVE.

 

Holders who wish to tender their Restricted Notes must complete Box 1, Box 2 and Box 4 and must sign this Letter of Transmittal in Box 4.

 

BOX 1
TENDER OF RESTRICTED NOTES
¨ CHECK HERE IF CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING THE TENDERED RESTRICTED NOTES ARE ENCLOSED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.
¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED RESTRICTED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name of Tendering Institution:_________________________________________________________________________________
Account Number:___________________________________________________________________________________________
Transaction Code Number:____________________________________________________________________________________
¨ CHECK HERE AND ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IF TENDERED RESTRICTED NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO THE DATE HEREOF AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:
Name(s) of Registered Owner(s):________________________________________________________________________________
Window Ticket Number (if any):________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery:_________________________________________________________________
Name of Eligible Institution which Guaranteed Delivery:______________________________________________________________
¨ CHECK HERE IF TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON-EXCHANGED RESTRICTED NOTES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE DTC ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORTH ABOVE.

 

4


List below the Restricted Notes being tendered herewith. If the space provided is inadequate, list the certificate numbers and principal amounts on a separately executed schedule and affix the schedule to this Letter of Transmittal. Tenders of Restricted Notes will be accepted only in principal amounts equal to US$1,000 or integral multiples thereof. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted.

 

BOX 2

DESCRIPTION OF RESTRICTED NOTES TENDERED

All Tendering Holders of 5.125% Notes Due 2013 Complete This Box:
Description of 5.125% Notes due 2013

Name(s) and address(es) of registered holder(s) exactly as

name(s) appear(s) on Restricted Notes, or on a security

position


  

Certificate
number(s) of

Restricted
Notes*


   Aggregate
principal amount
represented by
principal
certificate(s)


   Aggregate
principal amount
tendered**


                
                
                
                
                
     TOTAL:          

*   DOES NOT need to be completed if Restricted Notes are tendered by book-entry transfer.
**   Unless otherwise indicated, the holder will be deemed to have tendered the entire face amount of all Restricted Notes represented by tendered certificates. See Instruction 4.

 

If not already printed above, the name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) should be printed exactly as they appear on the certificate(s) representing the Restricted Notes tendered hereby or, if tendered by a participant in DTC, exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owner of those Restricted Notes.

 

BOX 3
SPECIAL ISSUANCE/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(SEE INSTRUCTIONS 1 AND 2)

Complete the information in the blanks below this paragraph ONLY if (1) either (a) the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Restricted Notes tendered hereby, or (b) Restricted Notes in a principal amount not tendered or not accepted for exchange, are to be issued or reissued in the name of someone other than the person(s) whose signature(s) appear(s) within this Letter of Transmittal or sent to an address different from that shown in Box 2 entitled “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered” within this Letter of Transmittal, or if (2) either (a) the Exchange Notes that are delivered by book-entry transfer, or (b) the Restricted Notes delivered by book-entry transfer that are not accepted for exchange, are to be returned by credit to an account maintained by DTC other than the account indicated in Box 1 above entitled “Tender of Restricted Notes.”

Issue Exchange Notes or return unexchanged Restricted Notes to:

 

5


Name:

 

 


           

Address:

 

 


           

 


           
(Include Zip Code)            

 


           

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

           

 

¨ Credit Exchange Notes or unexchanged Restricted Notes delivered by book-entry transfer to the DTC account set forth below:

 




Complete the following only if certificates for Exchange Notes or for unexchanged Restricted Notes are to be sent to someone other that the person named above or to that person at an address other than that shown in Box 2 entitled “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered.”

 

Name:

 

 


           

Address:

 

 


           

 


           
(Include Zip Code)            

 


           

(Tax Identification or Social Security Number)

           

(See Substitute Form W-9 herein)

           

 

NOTE: SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW.

PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY.

 

6


Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned is a holder of 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Restricted Notes”) issued by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A. (the “Company”) under an Indenture dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as trustee (the “Trustee”).

 

The undersigned acknowledges receipt of the Prospectus dated October     , 2003 (the “Prospectus”) and this Letter of Transmittal, which together constitute the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange an aggregate principal amount of up to US$300,000,000 of its newly issued 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Notes”) that have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), for a like amount of its Restricted Notes that were issued and sold in a transaction exempt from registration under the Act.

 

The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus, and in accordance with this Letter of Transmittal, the principal amount of Restricted Notes indicated in Box 2 above entitled “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Aggregate principal amount tendered” (or, if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Restricted Notes described in that table). The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that Restricted Notes may not be tendered except in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal.

 

Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the Restricted Notes tendered herewith in accordance with the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby exchanges, assigns and transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company, all right, title and interest in and to all of the Restricted Notes that are being tendered hereby and that are being accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer. By executing this Letter of Transmittal, subject to and effective upon acceptance for exchange of the Restricted Notes tendered therewith, the undersigned hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of the undersigned (with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent also acts as the agent of the Company) with respect to such Restricted Notes, with full powers of substitution and revocation (such powers of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an interest), to (i) present such Restricted Notes and all evidences of transfer and authenticity to, or transfer ownership of such Restricted Notes on the account books maintained by DTC to, or upon the order of, the Company, (ii) present such Restricted Notes for transfer of ownership on the books of the Company and (iii) receive all benefits and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Restricted Notes, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer.

 

If the undersigned is not the registered holder of the Restricted Notes listed in Box 2 above labeled “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Aggregate principal amount tendered” or such registered holder’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact, then in order to validly consent, the undersigned has obtained a properly completed irrevocable proxy that authorizes the undersigned (or the undersigned’s legal representative or attorney-in-fact) to deliver a Letter of Transmittal in respect of such Restricted Notes on behalf of the registered holder thereof, and that proxy is being delivered with this Letter of Transmittal.

 

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THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THE UNDERSIGNED HAS FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO TENDER, EXCHANGE, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER THE RESTRICTED NOTES TENDERED HEREBY, AND THAT WHEN THOSE RESTRICTED NOTES ARE ACCEPTED FOR EXCHANGE BY THE COMPANY, THE COMPANY WILL ACQUIRE GOOD AND UNENCUMBERED TITLE THERETO, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, RESTRICTIONS, CHARGES AND ENCUMBRANCES, AND THOSE RESTRICTED NOTES WILL NOT BE SUBJECT TO ANY ADVERSE CLAIMS. THE UNDERSIGNED WILL, UPON REQUEST, EXECUTE AND DELIVER ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS DEEMED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT OR THE COMPANY TO BE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE, ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE RESTRICTED NOTES TENDERED HEREBY. THE UNDERSIGNED HAS READ AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER.

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that a tender of Restricted Notes pursuant to any of the procedures described in the Prospectus and in this Letter of Transmittal and an acceptance of such Restricted Notes by the Company will constitute a binding agreement between the undersigned and the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.

 

The undersigned understands that the Exchange Offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, unless extended by the Company in its sole discretion or earlier terminated (the “Expiration Date”).

 

The name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby should be printed above, if they are not already set forth above, as they appear on the certificates representing such Restricted Notes. The certificate number(s) and the Restricted Notes that the undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the appropriate boxes above.

 

No authority conferred or agreed to be conferred by this Letter of Transmittal shall be affected by, and all such authority shall survive, the death or incapacity of the undersigned, and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, trustees in bankruptcy, personal and legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned. This tender of Restricted Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date. See “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal of Tenders” in the Prospectus.

 

The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that: (i) the undersigned is acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of its business; (ii) the undersigned, if not a broker-dealer, is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes; (iii) the undersigned has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes; and (iv) neither the undersigned nor any other such person is an affiliate of the Company. By tendering Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer and executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, this letter of transmittal, a holder of Restricted Notes that is a broker-dealer represents and agrees, consistent with certain interpretive letters issued by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Staff”) to third parties, that (a) such Restricted Notes held by the broker-dealer are held only as a nominee or (b) such Restricted Notes were acquired by such broker-

 

8


dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and it will deliver the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented from time to time) meeting the requirements of the Act in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes (provided that, by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, such broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act).

 

The undersigned also acknowledges that this Exchange Offer is being made in reliance upon interpretations by the Staff, as set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, that the Exchange Notes issued in exchange for Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof (other than any holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders’ business and the holders have no arrangement with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes. However, the Company has not obtained a no-action letter specifically for this Exchange Offer, and there can be no assurance that the Staff would make a similar determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as in other circumstances. If any holder is an affiliate of the Company, or is engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the distribution of the Exchange Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, that holder (a) cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the Staff and (b) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Act in connection with any resale transaction.

 

The Company has agreed that, subject to the provisions of the registration rights agreement among the Company and the Initial Purchasers (as defined therein) dated as of July 9, 2003 (the “Registration Rights Agreement”), the Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a participating broker-dealer (as defined below) in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Restricted Notes, where such Restricted Notes were acquired by such participating broker-dealer for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, for a period ending one year after the Expiration Date (subject to extension under certain limited circumstances) or, if earlier, when all such Exchange Notes have been disposed of by such participating broker-dealer. In that regard, each broker dealer who acquired Restricted Notes for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading activities (a “participating broker-dealer”), by tendering such Restricted Notes and executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, this Letter of Transmittal, agrees that, upon receipt of notice from the Company of the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any fact which makes any statement contained in the Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which causes the Prospectus to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or of the occurrence of certain other events specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, such participating broker-dealer will suspend the sale of Exchange Notes pursuant to the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and has furnished copies of the amended or supplemented Prospectus to the participating broker-dealer or the Company has given notice that the sale of the Exchange Notes may be resumed, as the case may be. If the Company gives such notice to suspend the sale of the Exchange Notes, it shall extend the one year period referred to above during which participating broker-dealers are entitled to use the Prospectus in connection with

 

9


the resale of Exchange Notes by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when participating broker-dealers shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to permit resales of the Exchange Notes or to and including the date on which the Company has given notice that the sale of Exchange Notes may be resumed, as the case may be.

 

Restricted Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted as soon as practicable after the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the Exchange Offer. The undersigned understands that the Company will deliver the Exchange Notes as promptly as practicable following acceptance of the tendered Restricted Notes. The Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions, as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus. See “The Exchange Offer—Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer” in the Prospectus. The undersigned recognizes that as a result of these conditions the Company may not be required to accept any of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby. In that event, the Restricted Notes not accepted for exchange will be returned to the undersigned at the address shown in Box 2, “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered,” unless otherwise indicated in Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions.”

 

If any tendered Restricted Notes are not exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer for any reason, or if certificates are submitted for more Restricted Notes than are tendered or accepted for exchange, certificates for such unaccepted or non-exchanged Restricted Notes will be returned (or, in the case of Restricted Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, such Restricted Notes will be credited to an account maintained at DTC), without expense to the tendering holder, promptly following the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions,” the undersigned hereby request(s) that any Restricted Notes representing principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange, and that the Exchange Notes with respect to Restricted Notes accepted for exchange, be issued in the name(s) of, and delivered to, the undersigned (and in the case of Restricted Notes tendered by book-entry transfer, by credit to the account of DTC indicated therein).

 

In the event that Box 3, “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions,” is completed, the undersigned hereby request(s) that any Restricted Notes representing principal amounts not tendered or not accepted for exchange, and that the Exchange Notes with respect to Restricted Notes accepted for exchange, be issued in the name(s) of, and be delivered to, the person(s) at the address(es) therein indicated, or in the case of a book-entry delivery of Restricted Notes, please credit the account indicated therein maintained at DTC. The undersigned recognizes that the Company has no obligation pursuant to the “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions” box to transfer any Restricted Notes from the names of the registered holder(s) thereof or to issue any Exchange Notes in the name(s) of anyone other than the name(s) of the registered holder(s) of the Restricted Notes in respect of which those Exchange Notes are issued, if the Company does not accept for exchange any of the principal amount of such Restricted Notes so tendered. The undersigned recognizes that the undersigned must comply with all of the terms and conditions of the Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time in accordance with its terms to transfer Restricted Notes either not tendered for exchange or not accepted for exchange from the name of the registered holder(s).

 

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For purposes of the Exchange Offer, the undersigned understands that the Company will be deemed to have accepted for exchange validly tendered Restricted Notes (or defectively tendered Restricted Notes with respect to which the Company has waived the defect) if, as and when the Company gives oral (confirmed in writing) or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.

 

The undersigned understands that the delivery and surrender of the Restricted Notes is not effective, and the risk of loss of the Restricted Notes does not pass to the Company, until receipt by the Exchange Agent of this Letter of Transmittal, or a facsimile hereof, properly completed and duly executed (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message, if applicable, in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal), together with all accompanying evidences of authority and any other required documents in a form satisfactory to the Company. All questions as to the form of all documents and the validity (including time of receipt) and acceptance of tenders and withdrawals of Restricted Notes will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and binding. The undersigned has completed the appropriate boxes and signed this Letter of Transmittal to indicate the action the undersigned desires to take with respect to the Exchange Offer.

 

¨ CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

 

Name:___________________________

Address:_________________________

________________________________

(Include Zip Code)

Phone Number:____________________

Contact Person:____________________

 

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Act.

 


 

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BOX 4

PLEASE SIGN HERE

(To be completed by all tendering holders of Restricted Notes regardless of whether Restricted Notes are being physically delivered herewith)
By completing, executing and delivering this Letter of Transmittal, the undersigned hereby tenders the principal amount of the Restricted Notes listed in Box 2 above labeled “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered” under the column heading “Principal Amount Tendered” (or if nothing is indicated therein, with respect to the entire aggregate principal amount represented by the Restricted Notes described in that box).
This Letter of Transmittal must be signed by the registered holder(s) exactly as the name(s) appear(s) on the certificate(s) representing Restricted Notes or, if tendered by a participant in DTC, exactly as such participant’s name appears on a security position listing as the owner of those Restricted Notes. If signature is by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, please set forth the full title and see Instruction 2.

SIGNATURE OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S) OR AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY

(SEE GUARANTEE REQUIREMENT BELOW)

Dated                                                                                                   

Name(s)                                                                                               

(Please Print)                                                                                       

Capacity (full title)                                                                            

Area Code and Telephone No.                                                          

Tax Identification or Social Security No.                                         

MEDALLION SIGNATURE GUARANTEE

(If Required—See Instructions 1 and 2)

Authorized Signature:                                                             

Name of Firm:                                                                         

                                               (Place Seal Here)

COMPLETE ACCOMPANYING SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9

 

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INSTRUCTIONS

FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE OFFER

 

1. Signature Guarantees. Signatures on this Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by a recognized participant in the Securities Exchange Agents Medallion Program or the Stock Exchange Medallion Program (a “Medallion Signature Guarantor”) (generally, a member of a registered national securities exchange or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or a commercial bank or trust company having an office in the United States (each, an “Eligible Institution”)), unless (a) the Restricted Notes tendered hereby are tendered by a registered holder (or by a participant in DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Restricted Notes) that has not completed Box 3 entitled “Special Issuance/Delivery Instructions” in this Letter of Transmittal or (b) the Restricted Notes are tendered for the account of an eligible institution. If the Restricted Notes are registered in the name of a person other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal if Restricted Notes not accepted for exchange or not tendered are to be returned to a person other than the registered holder or if Exchange Notes are to be issued to someone other than the signatory of this Letter of Transmittal, then the signatures on this Letter of Transmittal accompanying the tendered Restricted Notes must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor as described above. See Instruction 2.

 

2. Signatures on Letter of Transmittal, Instruments of Transfer and Endorsements. If the registered holders of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby sign this Letter of Transmittal, the signatures must correspond with the name(s) as written on the face of the certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever. If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a participant in DTC whose name is shown on a security position listing as the owner of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby, the signature must correspond with the name shown on the security position listing as the owner of the Restricted Notes.

 

If any of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby are registered in the name of two or more holders, all registered holders must sign this Letter of Transmittal. If any of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby are registered in different names on several certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal as there are different registrations of certificates. If this Letter of Transmittal or any Restricted Note or instrument of transfer is signed by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, agent, officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of such person’s authority to so act must be submitted.

 

When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby, no endorsements of the Restricted Notes or separate instruments of transfer are required unless payment is to be made, or Restricted Notes not tendered or exchanged are to be issued to a person other than the registered holders, in which case signatures on the Restricted Notes or instruments of transfer must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor.

 

This Letter of Transmittal and Restricted Notes should be sent only to the Exchange Agent, and not to the Company or DTC.

 

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If this Letter of Transmittal is signed other than by the registered holder(s) of the Restricted Notes tendered hereby, such Restricted Notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, and a duly completed proxy entitling the signer to tender those Restricted Notes on behalf of the registered holders, in any case signed exactly as the name or names of the registered holders appear on the Restricted Notes and signatures on those Restricted Notes or instruments of transfer and proxy are required and must be guaranteed by a Medallion Signature Guarantor, unless the signature is that of an eligible institution.

 

3. Transfer Taxes. Except as set forth in this Instruction 3, the Company will pay or cause to be paid any transfer taxes with respect to the transfer of Restricted Notes to it, or to its order, pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If Exchange Notes are to be issued or delivered to, or if Restricted Notes not tendered or exchanged are to be registered in the name of, any persons other than the registered owners, or if tendered Restricted Notes are registered in the name of any persons other than the persons signing this Letter of Transmittal, the amount of transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or such other person) payable on account of the transfer to such other person will be billed to the holder unless satisfactory evidence of the payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is submitted.

 

4. Delivery of this Letter of Transmittal and Certificates; Guaranteed Delivery Procedures. This Letter of Transmittal is to be used if (a) certificates for Restricted Notes are to be physically delivered to the Exchange Agent herewith, (b) tenders are to be made according to the guaranteed delivery procedures or (c) tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer, all as set forth in the Prospectus. For holders whose Restricted Notes are being delivered by book-entry transfer, delivery of an Agent’s Message by DTC will satisfy the terms of the Exchange Offer in lieu of execution and delivery of a Letter of Transmittal by the participant(s) identified in the Agent’s Message.

 

To validly tender Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, either (a) the Exchange Agent must receive a properly completed and duly executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile hereof) with any required signature guarantees, together with either a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or certificates for the Restricted Notes, or an Agent’s Message, as the case may be, and any other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, or (b) a holder of Restricted Notes must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.

 

Holders of Restricted Notes who desire to tender them pursuant to the Exchange Offer and whose certificates representing the Restricted Notes are not lost but are not immediately available, or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Exchange Agent prior to midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, or who cannot complete the procedure for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, may tender their Restricted Notes pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.” Pursuant to those procedures, (a) tender must be made by a firm that is a member of a registered national securities exchange or of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent in the United States and, in each instance, that is a participant in the Securities Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or similar program (an “eligible institution”), (b) the Exchange Agent must have received from the eligible institution, prior to midnight,

 

14


New York City time, on the Expiration Date, a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (by mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission), and (c) the certificates for all physically delivered Restricted Notes in proper form for transfer or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, must be received by the Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in the Prospectus under the caption “The Exchange Offer—Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.”

 

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED NOTES AND OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED HEREIN AND IN THE PROSPECTUS, DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, WE RECOMMEND THAT THE HOLDER USE PROPERLY INSURED, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, AND THAT THE MAILING BE MADE SUFFICIENTLY IN ADVANCE OF THE EXPIRATION DATE TO PERMIT DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT, NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt), acceptance, withdrawal and revocation of Restricted Notes tendered for exchange will be determined by the Company in its sole discretion, whose determination will be final and binding. The Company reserves the right to waive any defects or irregularities in the tender or conditions of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Restricted Notes. The interpretation of the Company of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including these Instructions) will be final and binding. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders must be cured within the time determined by the Company. No alternative, conditional or contingent tenders will be accepted. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any tender or will incur any liability for failure to give any notice. Tenders of Restricted Notes will not be deemed to have been made until irregularities have been cured or waived. Any certificates constituting Restricted Notes received by the Exchange Agent that are not properly tendered or as to which irregularities have not been cured or waived will be returned by the Exchange Agent to the tendering holders, unless otherwise provided in this Letter of Transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration Date.

 

5. Partial Tenders and Withdrawal Rights. Tenders of Restricted Notes will be accepted only in the principal amount of US$1,000 and multiples thereof. If less than all the Restricted Notes evidenced by any certificate submitted are to be tendered, fill in the principal amount of Restricted Notes which are to be tendered in the box entitled “Aggregate principal amount tendered.” In such case, new certificate(s) for the remainder of the Restricted Notes that were evidenced by your old certificate(s) will only be sent to the holder of the Restricted Notes, promptly after the Expiration Date. All Restricted Notes represented by certificates delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

 

Restricted notes tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn, as provided below, at any time prior to midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date. For the

 

15


withdrawal of a tender to be effective, a written, telegraphic or facsimile transmitted notice of withdrawal must be received by the Exchange Agent at the address or number set forth above prior to the Expiration Date. Any notice of withdrawal must (a) specify the name of the person who tendered the Restricted Notes, (b) identify the Restricted Notes to be withdrawn, (c) if certificates for Restricted Notes have been delivered to the Exchange Agent, specify the name in which the Restricted Notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing holder, (d) if certificates for Restricted Notes have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then, prior to the release of those certificates, submit the serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn, (e) if Restricted Notes have been tendered using the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn restricted notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of that facility, and (f) be signed in the same manner required by the Letter of Transmittal by which the Restricted Notes were tendered (including any required signature guarantees, endorsements and/or powers). All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of notices of withdrawal will be determined by the Company, whose determination will be final and binding on all parties. The Restricted Notes so withdrawn, if any, will be deemed not to have been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Restricted Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are withdrawn will be returned to the holder without cost to the holder as soon as practicable after withdrawal. Properly withdrawn Restricted Notes may be retendered on or prior to midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date by following the procedures for tender described in this Letter of Transmittal. Neither the Company, the Exchange Agent nor any other person will be under any duty to give notice of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or will incur any liability for failure to give such a notice.

 

6. Substitute Form W-9. Each tendering holder (or other recipient of any Exchange Notes) is required to provide the Exchange Agent with a correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”), generally the holder’s Social Security or Federal Employer Identification Number, and with certain other information, on Substitute Form W-9, which is provided under “Important Tax Information” below, and to certify that the holder (or other person) is not subject to backup withholding. Failure to provide the information on the Substitute Form W-9 may subject the tendering holder (or other person) to a US$50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service and 28% federal income tax backup withholding on any payment. The box in Part 3 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be checked if the tendering holder (or other person) has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends to apply for a TIN in the near future. If the box in Part 3 is checked and the Exchange Agent is not provided with a TIN by the time of payment, the Exchange Agent will withhold 30% on all reportable payments, if any, until a TIN is provided to the Exchange Agent.

 

7. Inadequate Space. If the space provided in the box captioned “Description of Restricted Notes Tendered” is inadequate, the certificate number(s) and/or the principal amount of Restricted Notes and any other required information should be listed on a separate signed schedule which is attached to this Letter of Transmittal.

 

8. Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates. If any certificate(s) representing Restricted Notes have been lost, destroyed or stolen, the holder should promptly notify the Exchange Agent. The holder will then be instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to

 

16


replace the certificate(s). This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen certificate(s) have been followed.

 

9. Requests for Assistance or Additional Copies. Any questions or requests for assistance or additional copies of the Prospectus or this Letter of Transmittal may be directed to the Exchange Agent at its telephone number set forth below.

 

IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR FACSIMILE THEREOF), OF

AN AGENT’S MESSAGE IN LIEU THEREOF, AND ALL OTHER REQUIRED

DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR

TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.

 

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IMPORTANT TAX INFORMATION

 

Under federal income tax law, a holder whose tendered Restricted Notes are accepted for payment is required to provide the Exchange Agent with the holder’s current TIN on Substitute Form W-9 below, or, alternatively, to establish another basis for an exemption from backup withholding. If the holder is an individual, the TIN is his or her Social Security number. If the Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the holder may be subject to a $50 penalty imposed by the Internal Revenue Service. In addition, any payment made to the holder or other payee with respect to Restricted Notes exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer or to Exchange Notes may be subject to a 28% back-up withholding tax.

 

Certain holders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign individuals) are not subject to these backup withholding and reporting requirements. In order for a foreign individual to qualify as an exempt recipient, that holder must submit to the Exchange Agent a properly completed Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN or other appropriate Form W-8 (a “Form W-8”), signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that individual’s exempt status. A Form W-8 can be obtained from the Exchange Agent. See the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for additional instructions.

 

If backup withholding applies, the Exchange Agent is required to withhold 28% of any payment made to the holder or other payee. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Rather, the federal income tax liability of persons subject to backup withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld. If withholding results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained from the Internal Revenue Service.

 

Purpose of Substitute Form W-9

 

To prevent backup withholding on any payment made to a holder or other payee with respect to Restricted Notes exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer or to Exchange Notes, the holder is required to notify the Exchange Agent of the holder’s current TIN (or the TIN of any other payee) by completing the form below, certifying that the TIN provided on Substitute Form W-9 is correct (or that the holder is awaiting a TIN), and that (i) the holder has not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service that the holder is subject to backup withholding as a result of failure to report all interest or dividends or (ii) the Internal Revenue Service has notified the holder that the holder is no longer subject to backup withholding.

 

What Number to Give the Exchange Agent

 

The holder is required to give the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g. Social Security number or Federal Employer Identification Number) of the registered owner of the Restricted Notes. If the Restricted Notes are registered in more than one name or are not registered in the name of the actual owner, consult the enclosed “Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9” for additional guidance on which number to report.

 

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BOX 9

PAYER’S NAME:    Celulosa Arauca y Constitución S.A.

    

SUBSTITUTE

 

FORM W-9

 

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

 

Payer’s Request for Taxpayer

Identification Number (TIN)

   PART 1—PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR NAME AND TIN IN THE BOX AT RIGHT AND CERTIFY BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW.   

 


Name

 

 


Social Security Number

 

 

 

OR

    

PART 2

 

Certification—Under penalty of perjury, I certify that:

 

  

 

 


Employer Identification Number

       
    

(1)    The number shown on this form is my correct Taxpayer Identification Number (or I am waiting for a number to be issued to me), and

 

(2)    I am not subject to backup withholding because (a) I am exempt from backup withholding, or (b) I have not been notified by the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) that I am subject to backup withholding as a result of a failure to report all interest or dividends, or (c) the IRS has notified me that I am no longer subject to backup withholding, and

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

PART 3—

 

 

¨ Awaiting TIN

         
    

(3)    I am a U.S. person (including a U.S. resident alien).

    
         
     CERTIFICATE INSTRUCTIONS—You must cross out item (2) above if you have been notified by the IRS Sign Here that you are currently subject to backup withholding because of under-reporting interest or dividends on your tax return. However, if after being notified by the IRS that you were subject to backup withholding you received another notification from the IRS that you are no longer subject to backup withholding, do not cross out such item (2).
Sign Here ð    The Internal Revenue Service does not require your consent to any provision of this document other than the certifications required to avoid backup withholding.
     SIGNATURE     
    
     DATE     
    

 

NOTE: FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY RESULT IN A $50 PENALTY IMPOSED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF UP TO 28%

OF ANY PAYMENTS MADE TO YOU PURSUANT TO THE OFFER. PLEASE REVIEW THE

ENCLOSED GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON

SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.

 

YOU MUST COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING CERTIFICATE IF YOU CHECKED THE BOX IN PART 3

OF THE SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.

 

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CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

I certify under penalties of perjury that a taxpayer identification number has not been issued to me, and either (1) I have mailed or delivered an application to receive a taxpayer identification number to the appropriate Internal Revenue Service Center or Social Security Administration Office, or (2) I intend to mail or deliver an application in the near future. I understand that if I do not provide a taxpayer identification number by the time of payment of all reportable payments made to me will be withheld.

         

 

Signature                                                                                                                 Date                                                                         , 20        

 

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In order to tender, a holder should send or deliver a properly completed and signed Letter of Transmittal, certificates for the Restricted Notes and any other required documents to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth below or tender pursuant to DTC’s Automated Tender Offer Program. The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

 

By Mail or Overnight Delivery:

  By Facsimile:   By Hand Delivery:

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

 

(212) 623-6216

Attention: William Potes

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

   

Confirm by Telephone:

(212) 623-5136

   


GUIDELINES FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9 OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

 

Guidelines for Determining the Proper Identification Number to Give the Payor

 

Social Security numbers have nine digits separated by two hyphens: i.e. 000-00-0000. Employer identification number have nine digits separated by only one hyphen: i.e. 00-0000000. The table below will help determine the number to give the payer.

 

For this type of account:


  

Give the social security number of:


1. Individual    The individual
2. Two or more individuals (joint account)    The actual owner of the account or, if the first individual on the account(1)
3. Custodian account of a minor (Uniform Gift to Minors Act)    The minor(2)
4. a. The usual revocable savings trust account (grantor is also trustee)    The grantor-trustee(1)
    b. So-called trust account that is not a legal or valid trust under state law    The actual owner(1)

For this type of account:


  

Give the social security number of:


5. Sole proprietorship account    The owner(3)
6. A valid trust, estate or pension trust identifying number of    Legal entity (Do not furnish the personal representative or trustee unless the legal entity itself is not designated in the account title)(4)
7. Corporate    The corporation
8. Association, club, religious, charitable, educational or other tax-exempt organization    The organization
9. Partnership    The partnership
10. A broker or registered nominee    The broker or nominee
11. Account with the Department of Agriculture in the name of a public entity (such as a state or local government, school district, or prison) that receives agricultural program payments    The public entity

(1)   List first and circle the name of the person whose number you furnish.
(2)   Circle the minor’s name and furnish the minor’s social security number.
(3)   You must show your individual name, but you may also enter your business or “doing business as” name. You may use either your SSN or EIN.
(4)   List first and circle the name of the legal trust, estate, or pension trust. Note: If no name is circled when there is more than one name, the number will be considered to be that of the first name issued.

 

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Code.

 

Purpose of Form.—A person who is required to file an information return with the IRS must get your correct TIN to report income paid to you, real estate transactions, mortgage

 

22


interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA. Use Form W-9 to give your correct TIN to the requester (the person requesting your TIN) and, when applicable, (1) to certify the TIN you are giving is correct (or you are waiting for a number to be issued), (2) to certify you are not subject to backup withholding, or (3) to claim exemption from backup withholding if you are an exempt payee. Giving your correct TIN and making the appropriate certifications will prevent certain payments from being subject to backup withholding.

 

What is Backup Withholding?—Persons making certain payments to you must withhold and pay to the IRS 28% of such payments under certain conditions. This is called “backup withholding.” Payments that could be subject to backup withholding include interest, dividends, broker and barter exchange transactions, rents, royalties, nonemployee pay, and certain payments from fishing boat operators. Real estate transactions are not subject to backup withholding.

 

If you give the requester your correct TIN, make the proper certifications, and report all your taxable interest and dividends on your tax return, your payments will not be subject to backup withholding. Payments you receive will be subject to backup withholding if:

 

1. You do not furnish your TIN to the requester; or

 

2. The IRS tells the requester that you furnished an incorrect TIN; or

 

3. The IRS tells you that you are subject to backup withholding because you did not report all your interest and dividends on your tax return (for reportable interest and dividends only); or

 

4. You do not certify to the requester that you are not subject to backup withholding under 3 above (for reportable interest and dividend accounts opened after 1983 only); or

 

5. You do not certify your TIN. See the Part III Instructions for exceptions.

 

Certain payees and payments are exempt from backup withholding and information reporting. See the Part II Instructions and the separate Instructions for the Requester of Form W-9.

 

How to Get a TIN.—If you do not have a TIN, apply for one immediately. To apply, get Form SS-5, Application for a Social Security Number Card (for individuals), from your local office of the Social Security Administration, or Form SS-4, Application for Employer Identification Number (for businesses and all other entities), from your local IRS office.

 

If you do not have a TIN, write “Applied For” in the space for the TIN in Part I, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester. Generally, you will then have 60 days to get a TIN and give it to the requester. If the requester does not receive your TIN within 60 days, backup withholding, if applicable, will begin and continue until you furnish your TIN.

 

Note: Writing “Applied For” on the form means that you have already applied for a TIN OR that you intend to apply for one soon.

 

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As soon as you receive your TIN, complete another Form W-9, include your TIN, sign and date the form, and give it to the requester.

 

Penalties

 

Failure To Furnish TIN.—If you fail to furnish your correct TIN to a requester, you are subject to a penalty of $50 for each such failure unless your failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect.

 

Civil Penalty for False Information With Respect to Withholding.—If you make a false statement with no reasonable basis that results in no backup withholding, you are subject to a $500 penalty.

 

Criminal Penalty for Falsifying Information.—Willfully falsifying certifications or affirmations may subject you to criminal penalties including fines and/or imprisonment.

 

Misuse of TINs.—If the requester discloses or uses TINs in violation of Federal law, the requester may be subject to civil and criminal penalties.

 

Specific Instructions

 

Name.—If you are an individual, you must generally enter the name shown on your social security card. However, if you have changed your last name, for instance, due to marriage, without informing the Social Security Administration of the name change, please enter your name, the last name shown on your social security card and your new last name.

 

Sole Proprietor.—You must enter your individual name. (Enter either your SSN or EIN in Part I). You may also enter your business name or “doing business as” name on the business name line. Enter your name as shown on your social security card and business name as it was used to apply for your EIN on Form SS-4.

 

Part I—Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN)

 

You must enter your TIN in the appropriate box. If you are a sole proprietor, you may enter your SSN or EIN. Also see the chart on page 16 for further clarification of name and TIN combinations. If you do not have a TIN, follow the instructions under How To Get A TIN on page 17.

 

Part II—For Payees Exempt From Backup Withholding

 

Individuals (including sole proprietors) are not exempt from backup withholding. Corporations are exempt from backup withholding for certain payments, such as interest and dividends.

 

If you are exempt from backup withholding, you should still complete this form to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding. Enter your correct TIN in Part I, write “Exempt” in Part II, and sign and date the form. If you are a nonresident alien or a foreign entity not subject to

 

24


backup withholding, give the requester the appropriate completed Form W-8, Certificate of Foreign Status.

 

Part III—Certification

 

For a joint account, only the person whose TIN is shown in Part I should sign.

 

1. Interest, Dividend, and Barter Exchange Accounts Opened Before 1984 and Broker Accounts Considered Active During 1983. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

 

2. Interest, Dividend, Broker, and Barter Exchange Accounts Opened. After 1983 and Broker Accounts Considered Inactive During 1983. You must sign the certification or backup withholding will apply. If you are subject to backup withholding and you are merely providing your correct TIN to the requester, you must cross out Item 2 in the certification before signing the form.

 

3. Real Estate Transactions. You must sign the certification. You may cross out Item 2 of the certification.

 

4. Other Payments. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification unless you have been notified of an incorrect TIN. Other payments include payments made in the course of the requester’s trade or business for rents, royalties, goods (other than bills for merchandise), medical and health care services, payments to a nonemployee for services (including attorney and accounting fees), and payments to certain fishing boat crew members.

 

5. Mortgage Interest Paid by You, Acquisitions or Abandonment of Secured Property, Cancellation of Debt, or IRA Contributions. You must give your correct TIN, but you do not have to sign the certification.

 

Privacy Act Notice

 

Section 6109 requires you to give your correct TIN to persons who must file information returns with the IRS to report interest, dividends, and certain other income paid to you, mortgage interest you paid, the acquisition or abandonment of secured property, cancellation of debt, or contributions you made to an IRA. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of your tax return. You must provide your TIN whether or not you are required to file a tax return. Payers must generally withhold 28% of taxable interest, dividend, and certain other payments to a payee who does not give a TIN to a payer. Certain penalties may also apply.

 

25

EX-99.2 13 dex992.htm FORM OF NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery

Exhibit 99.2

 

NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

for Tender of Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(acting through its Panamanian agency)

 

As set forth in the Exchange Offer (as defined below), this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (or a facsimile hereof) or one substantially equivalent hereto or the electronic form used by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for this purpose must be used to accept the Exchange Offer if certificates for outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Restricted Notes”) of Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency (the “Company”), are not immediately available to the registered holder of such Restricted Notes, or if a participant in DTC is unable to complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis of Restricted Notes to the account maintained by JPMorgan Chase Bank (the “Exchange Agent”) at DTC, or if time will not permit all documents required by the Exchange Offer to reach the Exchange Agent prior to midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”). This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (or a facsimile hereof) or one substantially equivalent hereto may be delivered by mail (registered or certified mail is recommended), by facsimile transmission, by hand or overnight carrier to the Exchange Agent. See “The Exchange Offer – Guaranteed Delivery Procedures.” Capitalized terms used herein and not defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in the Exchange Offer.

 

The Exchange Agent (the “Exchange Agent”) for the Exchange Offer is:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

 

By Mail or Overnight Delivery:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

 

By Facsimile:

 

(for Eligible Institutions only)

(212) 623-6216

Attention: William Potes

 

By Hand Delivery:

 

JPMorgan Chase Bank

4 New York Plaza

Fifteenth Floor

New York, New York 10004

Attention: William Potes

   

Confirm by Telephone:

(212) 623-5136

   

 

Delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to an address other than as set forth above or transmission of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery via a facsimile number other than the number listed above will not constitute a valid delivery.

 

This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery is not to be used to guarantee signatures. If a signature on a Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution (as defined therein) under the instructions thereto, such signature guarantee must appear in the applicable space provided in the signature box on the Letter of Transmittal.


Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned hereby tenders to the Company, the aggregate principal amount of Restricted Notes indicated below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery procedures and upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the accompanying Prospectus dated October     , 2003 (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”) and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitute the “Exchange Offer”), receipt of which is hereby acknowledged.

 

The undersigned hereby represents, warrants and agrees that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, exchange, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Restricted Notes and that the Company will acquire good, marketable and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances when the tendered Restricted Notes are acquired by the Company as contemplated herein, and the tendered Restricted Notes are not subject to any adverse claims or proxies. The undersigned warrants and agrees that the undersigned and each Beneficial Owner will, upon request, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Company or the Exchange Agent to be necessary or desirable to complete the tender, exchange, sale, assignment and transfer of the tendered Restricted Notes, and that the undersigned will comply with its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. The undersigned has read and agrees to all of the terms of the Exchange Offer.

 

By tendering Restricted Notes and executing this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the undersigned hereby represents and warrants that (i) neither the undersigned nor any Beneficial Owner(s) is an “affiliate” of the Company, (ii) any Exchange Notes to be received by the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s) are being acquired by the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s) in the ordinary course of business of the undersigned and any Beneficial Owner(s), (iii) the undersigned and each Beneficial Owner have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933) of Exchange Notes to be received in the Exchange Offer, and (iv) the undersigned or any such Beneficial Owner, if not a Broker-Dealer, is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933) of such Exchange Notes. If the undersigned is a Broker-Dealer, it acknowledges that it will deliver a copy of the Prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a Prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933.

 

All questions as to the form of documents, validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of tendered Restricted Notes will be determined by the Company, in its sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties. The Company reserves the absolute right, in its sole and absolute discretion, to reject any and all tenders determined by the Company not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or exchange for, may, in the view of the Company or its counsel, be unlawful.

 

All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned and every obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in bankruptcy, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.

 

2


SIGN HERE

Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):

 

Address(es):


 

 

Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory:

 

X


   

X


 

Tel. No(s):


Date:

   

 

Must be signed by the registered holder(s) of the tendered Restricted Notes as their name(s) appear(s) on certificates for such tendered Restricted Notes, or on a security position listing, or by person(s) authorized to become registered holder(s) by endorsement and documents transmitted with this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. If signature is by a trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, such person must set forth his or her full title below.

 

DESCRIPTION OF RESTRICTED NOTES TENDERED

Name of Tendering

Holder


 

Name and Address of
Registered Holder as it
Appears on the Restricted
Notes


 

Certificate Number(s)

of Restricted Notes

Tendered (or account

number for Book-Entry
Facility)


 

Aggregate Principal

Amount Restricted

Notes Tendered


             
             
             
             

 

If Restricted Notes will be delivered by Book-Entry Transfer to The Depository Trust Company, provide the following information:

 

DTC Account Number:


Date:


 

THE GUARANTEE ON THE REVERSE SIDE MUST BE COMPLETED

 

3


GUARANTEE

(Not to be used for signature guarantee)

 

The undersigned, a firm or other entity identified in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as an “eligible guarantor institution,” including (as such terms are defined therein): (i) a bank; (ii) a broker, dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer, government securities broker, government securities dealer; (iii) a credit union; (iv) a national securities exchange, registered securities association or clearing agency; or (v) a savings association that is a participant in a Securities Transfer Association recognized program (each of the foregoing being referred to as an “Eligible Institution”), hereby guarantees delivery to the Exchange Agent, at one of its addresses set forth above, either certificates for the Restricted Notes tendered hereby, in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of the book-entry transfer of such Restricted Notes to the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company, pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in the Prospectus, in either case together with one or more properly completed and duly executed Letter(s) of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof or an Agent’s Message in lieu thereof) and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, all within three (3) New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date of execution of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

 

The undersigned acknowledges that it must communicate the guarantee to the Exchange Agent and must deliver the Letter of Transmittal and certificates for the Restricted Notes tendered hereby to the Exchange Agent within the time period shown hereon and that failure to do so could result in a financial loss to the undersigned.

 


 

Firm

 


 

Authorized Signature

 


Address (Please Type or Print)

 


 

Name

 


Zip Code

 


 

Title

 


Area Code and Tel. No.   Date

 


 

DO NOT SEND CERTIFICATES FOR RESTRICTED NOTES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY. ACTUAL SURRENDER OF ORIGINAL NOTES MUST BE MADE PURSUANT TO, AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY, A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.

 

4

EX-99.3 14 dex993.htm FORM OF LETTER TO REGISTERED HOLDERS AND DTC PARTICIPANTS Form of Letter to Registered Holders and DTC Participants

Exhibit 99.3

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(acting through its Panamanian agency)

 

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

Its

5.125% Notes due 2013

Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

for Any and All of Its Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

October        , 2003

 

To Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,

Trust Companies and Other Nominees:

 

We are enclosing herewith an offer by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency (the “Company”), to exchange the Company’s new 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for any and all of the Company’s outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Restricted Notes”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the accompanying Prospectus, dated October     , 2003 (as the same amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitutes the “Exchange Offer”).

 

The Exchange Offer provides a procedure for holders to tender the Restricted Notes by means of guaranteed delivery.

 

Your prompt action is requested. The Exchange Offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”). Tendered Restricted Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, if such Restricted Notes have not previously been accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) as set forth in certain interpretative letters addressed to third parties in other transactions, Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Restricted Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof (other than a holder that is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act or a “broker” or “dealer” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such


Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaging, does not intend to engage, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. See “Shearman & Sterling,” SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), “Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.,” SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and “Exxon Capital Holding Corporation,” SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988). Accordingly, each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of those Exchange Notes.

 

The Exchange Offer is not conditioned on any minimum aggregate principal amount of Restricted Notes being tendered, except that Restricted Notes may be tendered only in an aggregate principal amount of US$1,000 and integral multiples of US$1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange, or to exchange any Exchange Notes for, any Restricted Notes and may terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Restricted Notes have been accepted for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer, if any of the conditions described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer — Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have occurred or exist or have not been satisfied.

 

We are requesting that you contact your clients from whom you hold Restricted Notes regarding the Exchange Offer. For your information and for forwarding to your clients for whom you hold Restricted Notes registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, we are enclosing the following documents:

 

  1.   A Prospectus, dated October     , 2003.

 

  2.   A Letter of Transmittal for your use and for the information of your clients.

 

  3.   A Notice of Guaranteed Delivery to be used to accept the Exchange Offer if the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis or if certificates for Restricted Notes are not immediately available or time will not permit all required documents to reach the Exchange Agent prior to the Expiration Date (as defined above).

 

  4.   A printed form of letter which may be sent to your clients for whose accounts you hold Restricted Notes registered in your name or in the name of your nominee, with space provided for obtaining such clients’ instructions with regard to the Exchange Offer.

 

  5.   Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9 of the Internal Revenue Service (included in the Letter of Transmittal after the instructions thereto).

 

WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT YOUR CLIENTS AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE.

 

2


The Company will not pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or other person for soliciting tenders of Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. You will, however, be reimbursed by the Company for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by you in forwarding any of the enclosed materials to your clients. The Company will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the tender of Restricted Notes to them or their order, except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal.

 

To participate in the Exchange Offer, certificates for Restricted Notes, or a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Restricted Notes into the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depositary Trust Company, together with a duly executed and properly completed Letter of Transmittal of facsimile thereof, with any required signature guarantees, and any other required documents, must be received by the Exchange Agent by the Expiration Date as indicated in the Letter of Transmittal and the Prospectus.

 

If holders of the Restricted Notes wish to tender, but it is impracticable for them to forward their Restricted Notes prior to the Expiration Date or to comply with the book-entry transfer procedures on a timely basis, a tender may be effected by following the guaranteed delivery procedures described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer – Guaranteed Delivery Procedures” and the Letter of Transmittal.

 

Any inquiries you may have with respect to the Exchange Offer may be addressed to, and additional copies of the enclosed materials may be obtained from, the Exchange Agent at the following telephone number: (212) 623-5136.

 

Very truly yours,                                    

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.    

 

NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU AS THE AGENT OF THE COMPANY, THE EXCHANGE AGENT OR ANY OTHER PERSON, OR AUTHORIZE YOU OR ANY OTHER PERSON TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF ANY OF THEM IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER OTHER THAN THE DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED HEREWITH AND THE STATEMENTS CONTAINED THEREIN.

 

3

EX-99.4 15 dex994.htm FORM OF LETTER TO CLIENTS Form of Letter to Clients

Exhibit 99.4

 

Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(acting through its Panamanian agency)

 

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

Its

5.125% Notes due 2013

Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

for Any and All of Its Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

To Our Clients:

 

Enclosed for your consideration are the Prospectus, dated October     , 2003 (as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time, the “Prospectus”), and the related Letter of Transmittal (which together with the Prospectus constitute the “Exchange Offer”), in connection with the offer by Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A., acting through its Panamanian agency (the “Company”), to exchange the Company’s new 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Exchange Notes”), which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), for any and all of the Company’s outstanding 5.125% Notes due 2013 (the “Restricted Notes”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Offer will expire at midnight, New York City time, on November     , 2003, unless extended (the “Expiration Date”).

 

We are holding Restricted Notes for your account. An exchange of the Restricted Notes can be made only by us and pursuant to your instructions. The Letter of Transmittal is furnished to you for your information only and cannot be used by you to exchange the Restricted Notes held by us for your account. The Exchange Offer provides a procedure for holders to tender by means of guaranteed delivery.

 

We request information as to whether you wish us to exchange any or all of the Restricted Notes held by us for your account upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.

 

Your attention is directed to the following:

 

  1.   The forms and terms of the Exchange Notes are the same in all material respects as the forms and terms of the Restricted Notes (which they replace), except that the Exchange Notes have been registered under the Securities Act. Interest on the Exchange Notes will accrue from the most recent January 9 or July 9 on which interest was paid or provided for on the Restricted Notes, or, if no interest has been paid or provided for on the Restricted Notes, from July 9, 2003.

 

  2.  

Based on an interpretation by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as set forth in certain interpretive letters addressed to third parties in other transactions, Exchange Notes issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Restricted Notes may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a holder thereof (other than a holder which is an “affiliate” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405


 

under the Securities Act or a “broker” or “dealer” registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such Exchange Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such holder’s business and such holder is not engaging, does not intend to engage, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of such Exchange Notes. See “Shearman & Sterling,” SEC No-Action Letter (available July 2, 1993), “Morgan Stanley & Co., Inc.,” SEC No-Action Letter (available June 5, 1991) and “Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation,” SEC No-Action Letter (available May 13, 1988). Accordingly, each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a Prospectus in connection with any resale of those Exchange Notes.

 

  3.   The Exchange Offer is not conditioned on any minimum aggregate principal amount of Restricted Notes being tendered. The Exchange Notes will be exchanged for the Restricted Notes at the rate of US$1,000 principal amount of Exchange Notes for US$1,000 principal amount of Restricted Notes.

 

  4.   Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any extension of the Exchange Offer, the Company will not be required to accept for exchange, or to exchange any Exchange Notes for, any Restricted Notes and may terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Restricted Notes have been accepted for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer, if any of the conditions described in the Prospectus under “The Exchange Offer – Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer” have occurred or exist or have not been satisfied.

 

  5.   Tendered Restricted Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to midnight, New York City time, on the Expiration Date, if such Restricted Notes have not previously been accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

 

  6.   Any transfer taxes applicable to the exchange of Restricted Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be paid by the Company, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 3 of the Letter of Transmittal.

 

If you wish to have us tender any or all of your Restricted Notes, please so instruct us by completing, detaching and returning to us the instruction form attached hereto. An envelope to return your instructions is enclosed. If you authorize a tender of your Restricted Notes, the entire principal amount of Restricted Notes held for your account will be tendered unless otherwise specified on the instruction form. Your instructions should be forwarded to us in ample time to permit us to submit a tender on your behalf by the Expiration Date.

 

The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of, holders of the Restricted Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making of the Exchange Offer or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the laws of such jurisdiction or would otherwise not be in compliance with any provision of any applicable securities law.

 

2


Celulosa Arauco y Constitución S.A.

(acting through its Panamanian agency)

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

Its

5.125% Notes due 2013

Which Have Been Registered Under the Securities Act of 1933

for Any and All of Its Outstanding

5.125% Notes due 2013

 

Instructions from Beneficial Owner:

 

The undersigned acknowledge(s) receipt of your letter and the enclosed Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal in connection with the offer by the Company to exchange Exchange Notes for Restricted Notes.

 

This will instruct you to tender the principal amount of Restricted Notes indicated below held by you for the account of the undersigned, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus and the related Letter of Transmittal.

 

The undersigned represents that (i) the Exchange Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the ordinary course of the undersigned’s business, (ii) the undersigned has no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in the distribution of such Exchange Notes, (iii) if the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in the distribution of the Exchange Notes and (iv) the undersigned is not an “affiliate,” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, of the Company. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a copy of the prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act.

 

Sign here

 


Signature(s)

 

3


With respect to the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby instructs you (check appropriate box):

 

¨            To TENDER the following Restricted Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned (insert principal amount of Restricted Note to be tendered, if any):

 

  $ of the Restricted Notes

 

¨            Not to TENDER any Restricted Notes held by you for the account of the undersigned

 

SIGN HERE

 

Name(s) of Beneficial Owner(s):

 

Address(es):

   

 
 

 
 
Signature(s) of Owner(s) or Authorized Signatory:  
 

X


       

X

 


 

Tel. No(s):

 


   

Date:

 

Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:

   

 

4

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-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----