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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

    Date of Report:   December 10, 2001    
    Date of Earliest Event Reported:   December 5, 2001    

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   1-5057   82-0100960
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Commission File
Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.) 
1111 West Jefferson Street
P.O. Box 50
Boise, Idaho
(Address of principal executive offices)
  83728-0001
(Zip Code)

208/384-6161
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)




Item 5.  Other Events

    On December 5, 2001, Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company") closed the sale of $172.5 million of 7.50% Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Units (the "Units"). The Units consist of (i) purchase contracts under which the holder will purchase shares of the common stock of the Company on December 16, 2004, and (ii) preferred securities issued by Boise Cascade Trust I, which will pay quarterly distributions at the annual rate of 7.50% of the liquidation amount of $50.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Events

    Exhibits to this report are listed in the Index to Exhibits and are incorporated by reference.



SIGNATURE

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By

/s/ Karen E. Gowland

Karen E. Gowland
Vice President and Corporate Secretary

Date: December 10, 2001



Index to Exhibits

    The following exhibits are filed herewith.

Exhibit No.
  Document

99.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated November 29, 2001, between the Company and the representatives of the Underwriters with respect to the Units

99.2

 

Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee, to the Indenture dated as of October 1, 1985 between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated December 20, 1989 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated August 1, 1990

99.3

 

Form of Debentures (Included in Exhibit 99.2)

99.4

 

Purchase Contract Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent

99.5

 

Form of Normal Unit (Included in Exhibit 99.4)

99.6

 

Form of Stripped Unit (Included in Exhibit 99.4)

99.7

 

Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated December 5, 2001, of Boise Cascade Trust I among the Company, as Depositor, BNY Western Trust Company, as Property Trustee, The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees named herein

99.8

 

Form of Trust Preferred Security (included in Exhibit 99.7)

99.9

 

Guarantee Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, between the Company, as guarantor, and BNY Western Trust Company, as guarantee trustee, with respect to the trust preferred securities

99.10

 

Pledge Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, as collateral agent, custodial agent and securities intermediary, and BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent



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SIGNATURE
Index to Exhibits
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Boise Cascade Corporation
Boise Cascade Trust I
7.50% Adjustable Conversion-rate
Equity Security Units
(Stated Amount $50 per Unit)


Underwriting Agreement

November 29, 2001

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
ABN AMRO Rothschild LLC,
Banc of America Securities LLC,
First Union Securities, Inc.,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
    c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to enter into the Purchase Contracts (the "Purchase Contracts") referred to in the Purchase Contract Agreement to be dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Purchase Contract Agreement") between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent (the "Purchase Contract Agent"), underlying an aggregate of 3,000,000 7.50% Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Units (the "Firm Securities"). In connection therewith, Boise Cascade Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust created under the Business Trust Act of the State of Delaware (the "Delaware Business Trust Act"), and the Company propose, subject to the terms and conditions herein, that the Trust issue and sell to the Underwriters 3,000,000 7.50% Preferred Securities (liquidation amount $50) (the "Preferred Securities") representing undivided preferred beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, which will be guaranteed by the Company (the "Guarantee") as to the payment of distributions, and as to payments on liquidation or redemption, to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand legally available therefor, as set forth in a guarantee agreement (the "Guarantee Agreement") between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"). In connection with the Purchase Contract Agreement and pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, to be dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent and JPMorgan Chase Bank, as collateral agent, custodial agent and securities intermediary (the "Collateral Agent"), the Preferred Securities underlying the Units (as defined below) will be pledged by the Purchase Contract Agent on behalf of the holders of the Units to secure the holders' obligations to the Company under the Purchase Contract underlying such Unit. The rights to purchase newly issued common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") under a Purchase Contract, together with the Preferred Securities or other pledged securities securing such Purchase Contract, subject to (i) the obligations owed to the Company under such Purchase Contract and (ii) the pledge arrangements under the Pledge Agreement securing the foregoing obligations, collectively constitute an Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Unit (each, a "Unit"). In addition, subject to the terms and conditions herein, the Company proposes to grant the Underwriters an option to enter into Purchase Contracts underlying up to 450,000 additional Units, and the Trust and the Company propose to grant the Underwriters an option to purchase up to 450,000 additional Preferred Securities, and, in the event the Underwriters enter into any such additional Purchase Contracts, the Underwriters propose to purchase a number of additional Preferred Securities equal to such number of additional Purchase Contracts, pledge such Preferred Securities to the Collateral Agent (the Units resulting therefrom being the "Optional Securities"). The Firm Securities and any Optional Securities purchased by the Underwriters are herein called the "Securities".


    The proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities and of the common securities of the Trust (the "Common Trust Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities") to be sold by the Trust to the Company are to be invested in 7.50% Senior Debentures (the "Senior Debentures") of the Company to be issued pursuant to an Indenture (the "Original Indenture") between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee"), dated as of October 1, 1985, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1998 (the "First Supplement") and the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Second Supplement", and, together with the Original Indenture and the First Supplement, the "Base Indenture"), as further supplemented for this transaction by the Third Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Third Supplemental Indenture", and, together with the Base Indenture, the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Original Trustee and BNY Western Trust Company, as series trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). The Trust Securities will be issued pursuant to, and will be governed by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 5, 2001, (the "Declaration") among the Company, BNY Western Trust Company, as property trustee (the "Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), the Administrative Trustees named therein and the holders from time to time of the beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The Declaration, the Indenture and the Guarantee Agreement will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").

    Pursuant to a Remarketing Agreement (the "Remarketing Agreement") to be entered into among the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent and a financial institution to be selected by the Company to act as reset agent and remarketing agent (together, the "Remarketing Agent"), the Preferred Securities or Senior Debentures will be remarketed, subject to certain terms and conditions.

    1.  The Company and the Trust jointly and severally represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters that:

2


3


4


5


    2.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to enter into the Purchase Contracts underlying the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, (b) the Company and the Trust agree that the Trust will sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Trust, at a purchase price of $48.50 per Preferred Security, the number of Preferred Securities underlying the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, and (c) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to enter into additional Purchase Contracts underlying Optional Securities as provided below, (i) the Company and each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to enter into that number of additional Purchase Contracts as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional Purchase Contracts) determined by multiplying such number of additional Purchase Contracts by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional Securities set forth in total opposite the names of all such Underwriters in Schedule I hereto and (ii) the Company and the Trust agree that the Trust will sell to each of the Underwriters and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Trust at the purchase price set forth in clause (a) of this Section 2, a number of Preferred Securities equal to such number of additional Purchase Contracts.

    The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to enter into at their election up to 450,000 Purchase Contracts underlying Optional Securities and the Company and the Trust hereby grant the Underwriters the right to purchase from the Trust at their election up to 450,000 Preferred Securities, at the purchase price set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering overallotments in the sale of the Firm Securities. Any such election to enter into such additional Purchase Contracts and purchase such Preferred Securities may be exercised by written notice from you to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement and setting forth the aggregate number of such additional Purchase Contracts to be entered into and Preferred Securities to be purchased (which shall be an identical number) and the date on which the related Optional Securities are to be delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless you and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after the date of such notice.

    The Underwriters agree to pledge to the Collateral Agent, on behalf of the initial purchasers of the Units, the Preferred Securities underlying the Firm Securities and the Optional Securities with respect to which the Company and the Underwriters have entered into Purchase Contracts. Such pledge shall be effected by the delivery to the Collateral Agent in New York by the Underwriters of the Preferred Securities to be pledged at the appropriate Time of Delivery (as defined below) in accordance with the Pledge Agreement.

    Unless the context otherwise requires, for purposes of this Agreement, the act of entering into a Purchase Contract underlying a Security and purchasing a Preferred Security underlying a Security shall be referred to as a "purchase" of such Security.

    3.  Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

6


    4.  (a) The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will be represented by one or more definitive global Units in book-entry form which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Company with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian. The Company will deliver the Securities to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the account of each Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to Goldman, Sachs & Co. at least forty-eight hours in advance, by causing DTC to credit the Units to the account of Goldman, Sachs & Co. at DTC. The Company will cause the certificates representing the Units to be made available to Goldman, Sachs & Co. for checking at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) at the office of DTC or its designated custodian (the "Designated Office"). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Securities, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on December 5, 2001 or such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional Securities, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by Goldman, Sachs & Co. in the written notice given by Goldman, Sachs & Co. of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Optional Securities, or such other time and date as Goldman, Sachs & Co. and the Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Securities is herein called the "First Time of Delivery", such time and date for delivery of the Optional Securities, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the "Second Time of Delivery", and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a "Time of Delivery".

    5.  The Company and the Trust jointly and severally agree with each of the Underwriters:

7


8


    6.  The Company and the Trust, jointly and severally, covenant and agree with the several Underwriters that the Company or the Trust will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act, and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing and copying any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreement, the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification; (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Securities on the Exchange; (v) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities, the Preferred Securities and the Senior Debentures; (vi) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (vii) the cost of preparing the Securities, the Preferred Securities, the Senior Debentures, the Common Trust

9


Securities and any Shares; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Trust and the trustees thereunder incident to the performance by the Trust of its obligations hereunder; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Purchase Contract Agent, Collateral Agent and Debenture Trustee and any agent of the Purchase Contract Agent, Collateral Agent and Debenture Trustee and the fees and disbursements of any counsel for the Purchase Contract Agent, Collateral Agent or Trustee in connection with the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Pledge Agreement the Indenture and the Senior Debentures, as the case may be; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the Company's or the Trust's obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

    7.  The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company and the Trust herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the Company and the Trust shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

10


11


12


13


14


    8.  (a) Each of the Company and the Trust, jointly and severally, will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment 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 will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Trust shall be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein.

15


16


    9.  (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties reasonably acceptable to the Company to purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein at a Time of Delivery. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you to purchase such Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, you notify the Company that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the Company notifies you that it has so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion may thereby be made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.

    10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Trust and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company or the Trust, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

17


    Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the indemnity agreement of the Company in subsection (a) of Section 8 hereof, the representations and warranties in subsections (b) and (c) of Section 2 hereof and any representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus contained in any certificate furnished by the Company or the Trust pursuant to Section 7 hereof, insofar as they may constitute a basis for indemnification for liabilities (other than payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) arising under the Act, shall not extend to the extent of any interest therein of a controlling person or partner of an Underwriter who is a director, officer or controlling person of the Company when the Registration Statement has become effective, except in each case to the extent that an interest of such character shall have been determined by a court of appropriate jurisdiction as not against public policy as expressed in the Act.

    11. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to clauses (i), (iii), (iv) or (v) of Section 7(i) or Section 9 hereof, neither the Company nor the Trust shall then be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason, any Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Trust as provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities, but the Company and the Trust shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

    12. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by you. Any action taken by you under this Agreement will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

    All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to you at 32 Old Slip, 21st Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: Registration Department; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by you upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

    13. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company, the Trust and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls the Company, the Trust or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

    14. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

    15. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

    16. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

18


    17. The Company is authorized, subject to applicable law, to disclose any and all aspects of this potential transaction that are necessary to support any U.S. federal income tax benefits expected to be claimed with respect to such transaction, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind.

    If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority of the signers thereof.

      Very truly yours,

 

 

 

Boise Cascade Corporation

 

 

 

By:

 
       
      Name:  
      Title:  

 

 

 

Boise Cascade Trust I

 

 

 

By:

 
       
      Name:  
      Title:  

Accepted as of the date hereof:

 

 

 
         
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,
ABN AMRO ROTHSCHILD LLC,
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC,
FIRST UNION SECURITIES, INC.,
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.,
     

By:

 

 

 

 
 
(Goldman, Sachs & Co.)
     

 

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

 

 

19



SCHEDULE I

Underwriter

  Number of Firm Securities to be Delivered
  Number of Optional Securities to be Delivered if Maximum Option Exercised
Goldman, Sachs & Co.   2,100,000   315,000
ABN AMRO Rothschild LLC   225,000   33,750
Banc of America Securities LLC   225,000   33,750
First Union Securities, Inc.   225,000   33,750
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.   225,000   33,750
   
 
  Total   3,000,000   450,000
   
 



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SCHEDULE I
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION,
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
and
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY

Third Supplemental Indenture
Dated as of December 5, 2001

Supplement to Indenture of Boise Cascade Corporation
dated as of October 1, 1985


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1   Definition of Terms   2

ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS

Section 2.1

 

Amendments

 

3

ARTICLE III

APPOINTMENT OF AND ACCEPTANCE BY SERIES TRUSTEE

Section 3.1

 

Appointment of Series Trustee

 

5
Section 3.2   Eligibility and Acceptance   5

ARTICLE IV

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SERIES SECURITIES

Section 4.1

 

Designation, Principal Amount and Authorized Denomination

 

6
Section 4.2   Maturity   6
Section 4.3   Form and Payment   6
Section 4.4   Global Series Security   6
Section 4.5   Interest   7
Section 4.6   Redemption of the Series Securities   8
Section 4.7   Additional Covenants   9
Section 4.8   Notice of Defaults   10
Section 4.9   Notice of Reset Rate   10
Section 4.10   CUSIP Numbers   10
Section 4.11   Security Registrar and Paying Agent   10

ARTICLE V

EXPENSES

Section 5.1

 

Expenses

 

10

ARTICLE VI

FORM OF SERIES SECURITY

Section 6.1

 

Form of Series Securities

 

11

ARTICLE VII

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF SERIES SECURITIES

Section 7.1

 

Original Issue of Series Securities

 

18

ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 8.1

 

Effectiveness

 

18
Section 8.2   Successors and Assigns   18
Section 8.3   Further Assurances   18
Section 8.4   Effect of Recitals   18
Section 8.5   Ratification of Indenture   18
Section 8.6   Governing Law   18
Section 8.7   Counterparts   18

i


    THIS THIRD SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of December 5, 2001 (this "Third Supplemental Indenture"), to an Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, among BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, (the "Company"), U.S. BANK AND TRUST COMPANY NATIONAL ASSOCIATION (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York) (the "Original Trustee") and BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY, a California banking corporation (the "Series Trustee").

    WHEREAS, the Company and the Original Trustee entered into an Indenture (the "Original Indenture"), dated as of October 1, 1985, as amended by the First Supplemental Indenture (the "First Supplement"), dated as of December 20, 1989, between the Company and the Original Trustee and by the Second Supplemental Indenture (the "Second Supplement"), dated as of August 1, 1990 between the Company and the Original Trustee (the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplement and the Second Supplement, the "Indenture"); and

    WHEREAS, Section 901 of the Indenture provides that the Indenture may be amended without the consent of any Holder (i) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of the Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision (ii) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the Indenture, provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect and (iii) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 201 and 301; and

    WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Original Trustee enter into this Third Supplemental Indenture for the purpose of appointing the Series Trustee with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the Original Trustee with respect to, and only with respect to, the Series Securities (as defined in Section 4.1), and for the purpose of amending the Indenture pursuant to Section 901 thereof to permit such appointment;

    WHEREAS, the Company has determined that the amendments set forth in Article Two hereof are authorized or permitted by Section 901 of the Indenture and has delivered to the Original Trustee and the Series Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to that effect and an Opinion of Counsel and an Officers' Certificate pursuant to Section 102 of the Indenture to the effect that all conditions precedent provided for in the Indenture to the Original Trustee's and the Series Trustee's execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture have been complied with;

    WHEREAS, Boise Cascade Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"), has offered to the public its 7.50% Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"), representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offering, together with the proceeds of the issuance and sale by the Trust to the Company of its Common Securities (the "Common Securities" and together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"), in the Series Securities;

    WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities and the Series Securities will be subject to remarketing and interest rate reset in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Remarketing Agreement to be entered into among the Company, the Trust (in the event the Preferred Securities are outstanding on the Remarketing Date), the Purchase Contract Agent and the Remarketing Agent (the "Remarketing Agreement"), the form of which is attached as Exhibit E to the Purchase Contract Agreement; and

    WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Original Trustee and the Series Trustee execute and deliver this Third Supplemental Indenture and satisfy all requirements necessary to make this Third Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument in accordance with its terms, and to make the Series Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Series Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company and all acts and things necessary have been done and performed to


make this Third Supplemental Indenture enforceable in accordance with its terms, and the execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized in all respects:

    NOW, THEREFORE, the Company, the Original Trustee and the Series Trustee agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

    Section 1.1  Definition of Terms.  Unless the context otherwise requires:

    (a) a term defined in the Indenture has the same meaning when used in this Third Supplemental Indenture unless otherwise specified herein;

    (b) a term defined anywhere in this Third Supplemental Indenture has the same meaning throughout;

    (c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

    (d) headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect interpretation;

    (e) the following terms have the meanings given to them in the Declaration: Administrative Trustee; Preferred Security Certificate; Delaware Trustee; Property Trustee; Remarketing Agent; Reset Agent; Reset Rate; and Underwriting Agreement.

    (f)  the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section 1.1(f):

    "Additional Sums" has the meaning provided in Section 4.5.

    "Additional Taxes" has the meaning provided in Section 4.5.

    "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions and trust companies in The City of New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

    "Collateral Agent" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Common Securities" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

    "Corporate Trust Office" means, with respect to the Series Trustee only, the office of the Series Trustee, located at 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust.

    "Creditor" has the meaning provided in Section 5.1.

    "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust, dated as of December 5, 2001.

    "Early Termination Event" means the dissolution of the Trust and the distribution of the Series Securities held by the Property Trustee to the holders of the Trust Securities issued by the Trust pro rata in accordance with the Declaration.

    "Failed Remarketing" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "First Supplement" has the meaning in the recitals hereto.

    "Global Series Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

    "Interest Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.5.

    "Non Book-Entry Preferred Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4.

    "Normal Units" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

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    "Over-Allotment Option" shall mean the option granted to the underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement to purchase up to an additional 390,000 Units.

    "Preferred Securities" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

    "Purchase Contract" shall have the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Purchase Contract Agreement" shall mean that certain agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001, between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent.

    "Quotation Agent" has the meaning provided in Section 4.6.

    "Redemption Treasury Portfolio" has the meaning provided in Section 4.6.

    "Remarketing Agreement" has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereto.

    "Remarketing Date" has the meaning set forth in Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Second Supplement" has the meaning in the recitals hereto.

    "Series Securities" has the meaning provided in Section 4.1.

    "Subsequent Remarketing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Company of an opinion of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC or other independent counsel having a nationally-recognized tax practice to the effect that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, change in, or announced proposed change in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein affecting taxation, (ii) any amendment to or change in an interpretation or application of such laws or regulations by any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority or (iii) any interpretation or pronouncement that provides for a position with respect to such laws or regulations that differs from the generally accepted position on the date the Series Securities are issued, which amendment, change or proposed change is effective or which interpretation or pronouncement is announced on or after the date of the first issuance of Series Securities under the Indenture, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (x) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Series Securities, (y) interest or original issue discount paid or accrued by the Company on the Series Securities would not be deductible, in whole or in part, by the Company for United States federal income tax purposes, or (z) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days after the date thereof, subject to more than de minimis amount of other taxes, duties, assessments or other governmental charges.

    "Tax Event Redemption" has the meaning provided in Section 4.6(a) hereof.

    "Trust" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.

    "Trust Securities" has the meaning provided in the recitals hereto.


ARTICLE II

AMENDMENTS

    Section 2.1  Amendments.  The Indenture is amended as follows:

    (a) Section 101 of the Indenture is amended by (i) adding the following definition, which shall be inserted after the definition of "Security Register":

    "Series Trustee" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 301(17).

and (ii) by amending the definition of "Trustee" by adding the words "or a Series Trustee" after the words "a successor Trustee" in the second line thereof.

3


    Section 101 of the Indenture is further amended by adding the following definition, which shall be inserted after the definition of "Original Issue Discount Security":

    "Original Trustee" means Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York or any successor pursuant to Section 611 or 612.

    Section 301 of the Indenture is amended by deleting "and" after subparagraph (16) and by adding the following subparagraph after subparagraph (16):

and by renumbering subparagraph (17) as subparagraph (18).

    Section 901(6) of the Indenture is amended and restated to read as follows:

    A new Section 615 shall be added to the Indenture after Section 614 thereof, which shall read as follows:

    Section 615. Appointment of Series Trustee.

    Upon request of any such Series Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such Series Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the preceding paragraph.

    No Series Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such Series Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

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ARTICLE III
APPOINTMENT OF AND ACCEPTANCE BY SERIES TRUSTEE

    Section 3.1  Appointment of Series Trustee.  Pursuant to Section 301(17) of the Indenture, as amended hereby, the Company hereby appoints the Series Trustee as Trustee under the Indenture with respect to, and only with respect to, the Series Securities. Pursuant to Section 615 of the Indenture, as amended hereby, the Company vests all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the Original Trustee under the Indenture to the Series Trustee with respect to the Series Securities, and there shall continue to be vested in the Original Trustee all of its rights, powers, trusts and duties as Trustee under the Indenture with respect to all of the series of Securities to which it has served and continues to serve as Trustee under the Indenture.

    Section 3.2  Eligibility and Acceptance.  The Series Trustee hereby represents that it is qualified and eligible under the provisions of Section 609 of the Indenture and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, to accept its appointment as Trustee with respect to the Series Securities under the Indenture and hereby accepts the appointment as such Trustee. The parties hereto agree that the Series Trustee's execution and delivery of this Third Supplemental Indenture to the other parties hereto constitutes an instrument accepting such appointment within the meaning of Section 615 of the Indenture, as amended hereby.

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ARTICLE IV

GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SERIES SECURITIES

    Section 4.1  Designation, Principal Amount and Authorized Denomination.  There is hereby authorized a series of Securities designated the 7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006 (the "Series Securities"), limited in aggregate principal amount to $154,700,000 (or up to $177,836,000, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised in full), which amount to be issued shall be as set forth in any written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of Series Securities pursuant to the Indenture. The denominations in which Series Securities shall be issuable is $50 and integral multiples thereof.

    Section 4.2  Maturity.  The Stated Maturity Date will be December 16, 2006.

    Section 4.3  Form and Payment.  Except as provided in Section 4.4, the Series Securities shall be issued in fully registered certificated form without interest coupons bearing identical terms. Principal and interest on the Series Securities issued in certificated form will be payable, the transfer of such Series Securities will be registrable and such Series Securities will be exchangeable for Series Securities bearing identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the Trustee; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the Holder at such address as shall appear in the Register or by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the bank account number of the Holder specified in writing by the Holder and entered in the Register by the Registrar. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of any Series Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of and interest (including expenses and taxes of the Trust set forth in Section 5.1 hereof, if any) on such Series Securities held by the Property Trustee will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Property Trustee.

    Section 4.4  Global Series Security.  (a) The Depository Trust Company shall serve as the initial Depositary for the Series Securities.

    (b) The Series Securities shall be issued initially in fully registered form in the name of the Property Trustee, in its capacity as such. In connection with an Early Termination Event,

6


    (c) Unless and until it is exchanged for the Series Securities in registered form, a Global Series Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary, or to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.

    (d) If (a) at any time the Depositary for Global Series Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Series Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Global Series Securities shall no longer be a clearing agency registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such Global Series Securities is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or (b) the Company determines in its sole discretion that the Series Securities shall no longer be represented by one or more Global Series Securities and delivers to the Trustee an Officer's Certificate evidencing such determination, then the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer's Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver Series Securities of like tenor in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Series Securities in exchange for such Global Series Securities. Upon the exchange of Global Series Securities for such Series Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Series Securities shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Series Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for Global Series Securities pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Series Securities to the Persons in whose names such Series Securities are so registered.

    Section 4.5  Interest.  (a)( Each Series Security will bear interest initially at the rate of 7.50% per annum (the "Interest Rate") from the original date of issuance through and including September 16, 2004, and thereafter at the Reset Rate in accordance with Section 4.5(b) and notified to the Trustee by the Company (the "Reset Rate"), until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the Interest Rate through and including September 16, 2004 and at the Reset Rate thereafter, compounded quarterly, payable (subject to the provisions of Section 4.5(c) and Article III herein) quarterly in arrears on March 16, June 16, September 16 and December 16 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date") commencing on March 16, 2002, to the Person in whose name such Series Security or any predecessor Series Security is registered, at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which, in respect of (i) Series Securities of which the Property Trustee is the Holder and the Preferred Securities are in book-entry only form or (ii) a Global Series Security, shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding that Interest Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if (i) the Series Securities are held by the Property Trustee and the Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry only form or (ii) the Series Securities are not represented by a Global Series Security, the Company may select a regular record date for such interest installment which shall be more than one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior to an Interest Payment Date.

7


    (b) The interest rate on the Series Securities will be reset on the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, to the Reset Rate determined by the Reset Agent in accordance with the Remarketing Agreement (which Reset Rate will become effective as of and after September 16, 2004); provided, however, if there has been a Failed Remarketing, the Reset Rate will be equal to the Interest Rate unless and until the Preferred Securities or the Series Securities are successfully remarketed pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    (c) The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in the following sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period shorter than a full month for which interest is computed will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on the Series is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.

    (d) The Series Securities are not entitled to any sinking fund payments.

    (e) In the event that (i) the Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding Series Securities and (ii) the Trust becomes subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Series Securities or the Trust becomes subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties assessments or governmental charges (such obligations, collectively, "Additional Taxes"), the Company shall pay to the Trust (and its permitted successors or assigns under the Declaration) for so long as the Trust (or its permitted successors or assignee) is the registered holder of any Series Securities, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the amount of distributions then due and payable by the Trust on the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes (the "Additional Sums"). Whenever in this Indenture or the Series Securities there is a reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the Series Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of the Additional Sums provided for in this Section to the extent that, in such context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express mention of the payment of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

    Section 4.6  Redemption of the Series Securities.  he following provisions related to redemption shall be applicable to Series Securities:

    (a) If a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing the Company shall have the right upon not less than 30 but no more than 60 days' notice to the Holders of the Series Securities to redeem all, but not less than all, the Series Securities then Outstanding (a "Tax Event Redemption") on the date set forth in such notice (the "Redemption Date"), which notice shall be irrevocable.

    (b) If the Company elects to redeem all of the Series Securities pursuant to paragraph (a) above, the Company shall pay a price in cash with respect to each Series Security Outstanding calculated as follows:

8


    (c) The Company shall, in order to determine the price of the Redemption Treasury Portfolio, retain the services of an agent (the "Quotation Agent"), which shall be a primary U.S. government securities dealer located in New York City. The Company shall retain Goldman, Sachs, & Co. or a successor as the Quotation Agent; provided that if Goldman, Sachs, & Co. ceases to be a primary government securities dealer or does not wish to perform the services of the Quotation Agent hereunder, the Company shall retain another primary U.S. government securities dealer as quotation agent. The Quotation Agent will solicit the lowest price quoted for the Redemption Treasury Portfolio on or prior to the third Business Day before the Redemption Date for settlement on the Redemption Date, promptly notify the Company of such lowest price and arrange for the purchase and settlement of the Redemption Treasury Portfolio per the order of the Company. The Company shall pay to the Quotation Agent the Quotation Agent's customary and reasonable fee for such service.

    Section 4.7  Additional Covenants.  The Company covenants and agrees with each Holder, and, with respect to the covenants set forth in paragraphs (i)–(vii), with each holder of Preferred Securities for so long as any Preferred Securities are outstanding:


(i)

 

to maintain, directly or indirectly, 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust; provided
, however, that any permitted successor of the Company hereunder may succeed to the Company's ownership of such Common Securities;

(ii)

 

not to voluntarily terminate, wind-up or liquidate the Trust (or permit the termination, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust), except (a) in connection with a distribution of the Series Securities to the Holders of Preferred Securities in the event of an Early Termination Event or (b) in connection with such mergers, consolidations and amalgamations as are permitted by the Declaration;

(iii)

 

to use its best efforts to cause the Trust to remain classified as a grantor trust and not an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes;

(iv)

 

to use its best efforts to cause the Trust to cause each holder of Preferred Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Series Securities;

(v)

 

to use its best efforts to cause the Trust to remain a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act, as the same may be amended from time to time, except (a) in connection with a distribution of the Series Securities to the Holders of Preferred Securities in the event of an Early Termination Event or (b) in connection with such mergers, consolidations and amalgamations as are permitted by the Declaration;

(vi)

 

to use its reasonable efforts to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange in the event that trading in and distribution of the Preferred Securities meets the minimum requirements with respect to listing;

9



(vii)

 

to use its commercially reasonable efforts to enter into the Remarketing Agreement and perform its obligations thereunder; and

(viii)

 

in the event that the Trust is dissolved and the Series Securities distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities, to use its reasonable efforts to cause the Series Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange in the event that trading in and distribution of the Series Securities meets the minimum requirements with respect to listing.

    Section 4.8  Notice of Defaults.  The Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such notices as it shall from time to time provide under Section 602 of the Indenture.

    Section 4.9  Notice of Reset Rate.  In the event that the interest rate with respect to the Series Securities is reset pursuant to the Remarketing Agreement, the Company shall, no later than the Business Day following the date of such reset, publish notification of the Reset Rate in The Wall Street Journal, or if such publication ceases to publish notices of such type, or if it is otherwise impractical to publish such notice therein, in such other daily newspaper of general circulation in The City of New York, published in the English language, as the Company may reasonably determine.

    Section 4.10  CUSIP Numbers.  The Company may from time to time obtain CUSIP numbers for the Series Securities and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices 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 Series Securities or as contained in any notice and that reliance may be placed only the other identification numbers printed on the Series Securities, and no action shall be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.

    Section 4.11  Security Registrar and Paying Agent.  The Company initially appoints the Series Trustee as the Security Registrar and Paying Agent for the Series Securities.


ARTICLE V

EXPENSES

    Section 5.1  Expenses.  In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Series Securities to the Property Trustee and in connection with the sale of the Preferred Securities by the Trust, the Company, in its capacity as borrower with respect to the Series Securities, shall:

10


    The Company's obligations under this Section 5.1 shall be for the benefit of, and shall be enforceable by, any person to whom such debts, obligations and costs are owed (a "Creditor") whether or not such Creditor has received notice hereof. Any such Creditor may enforce the Company's obligations under this Section 5.1 directly against the Company and the Company irrevocably waives any right or remedy to require that any such Creditor take any action against the Trust or any other Person before proceeding against the Company. The Company agrees to execute such additional agreements as may be necessary or desirable in order to give full effect to the provisions of this Section 5.1.


ARTICLE VI

FORM OF SERIES SECURITY

    Section 6.1  Form of Series Securities.  The Series Securities and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the following forms:

    Unless this Series Security is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Series Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]

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No.              

CUSIP No.                   $              


BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

7.50% SENIOR DEBENTURE DUE 2006

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to) for value received, hereby promises to pay to BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY, AS PROPERTY TRUSTEE, the principal sum of ($            ) on December 16, 2006 (such date is hereinafter referred to as the "Stated Maturity Date"), and to pay interest on said principal sum from December 5, 2001, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, quarterly in arrears (subject to deferral as set forth herein) on March 16, June 16, September 16 and December 16 of each year, commencing on March 16, 2002, initially at the rate of 7.50% per annum through and including September 16, 2004, and at the Reset Rate thereafter, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of 7.50% through and including September 16, 2004, and at the Reset Rate thereafter, until the principal hereof shall have become due and payable. The interest rate will be reset on the fourth Business Day preceding September 16, 2004 to the Reset Rate (as determined by the Reset Agent); provided, however, if there has been a Failed Remarketing, the Reset Rate will be equal to the Interest Rate until the Preferred Securities are successfully remarketed pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement. The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Debenture is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. The interest installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment, which in the case of a Global Debenture shall be the close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date; provided, however, if pursuant to the terms of the Indenture the Debentures are no longer represented by a Global Debenture, the Company may select such regular record date for such interest installment which shall be more than one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior to an Interest Payment Date. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holders on such regular record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business on a special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Holders of this series of Debentures not less than 10 days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Debentures may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange all as more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of and the interest on this Debenture shall be payable at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address as shall appear in the Register or by wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the Holder entitled thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Debenture is the Property

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Trustee or the Collateral Agent, the payment of the principal of and interest on this Debenture will be made at such place and to such account as may be designated in writing by the Property Trustee.

    This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the within mentioned Indenture, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose, until the Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been executed by the Trustee.

    The provisions of this Debenture are continued on the reverse side hereof and such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be executed.

Dated:

  BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

By:

 
   
  Name:
Title:
Attest
   

By:

 
 
Name:
Title:

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CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

    This is one of the Series Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:

  BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee

 

By:

 
   
Authorized Signatory

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(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE)

    This Debenture is one of a duly authorized series of the debentures of the Company (herein sometimes referred to as the "Series Securities"), all issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985 (the "Original Indenture"), between the Company and Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York (the "Original Trustee") as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (the "First Supplement"), dated as of December 20, 1989 between the Company and the Original Trustee, the Second Supplemental Indenture (the "Second Supplement"), dated as of August 1, 1990 between the Company and the Original Trustee and the Third Supplemental Indenture (the "Third Supplemental Indenture", and together with the Original Indenture and the First Supplement and the Second Supplement, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities. By the terms of the Indenture, the Series Securities are issuable in series that may vary as to amount, date of maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as provided in the Indenture. This series of Securities is limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in said Third Supplemental Indenture.

    The Debentures are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.

    In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Debentures may be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

    The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Series Securities of each series affected at the time outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of, among other things, adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Series Securities; provided, however, that, among other things, no such supplemental indenture shall (i) reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon without the consent of the Holder of each Series Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Series Securities, the Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holders of each Series Security then outstanding and affected thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Series Securities of any series at the time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of all of the Holders of the Series Securities of such series, to waive a default or Event of Default with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Series Securities of such series or a default in respect of a provision that under Article Nine of the Indenture cannot be amended without the consent of each holder affected thereby. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Debenture (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Debenture and of any Debenture issued in exchange for or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Debenture.

    No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Debenture or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Debenture at the time and place and at the rate and in the money herein prescribed.

    As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, this Debenture is transferable by the registered Holder hereof on the Security Register of the Company, upon surrender

15


of this Debenture for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Trustee in The City of New York and State of New York accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Debentures of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

    Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Debenture, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and the Security Registrar may deem and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Debenture shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

    No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the interest on this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator, shareholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and released.

    The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to, among other things, merge or consolidate with any other Person or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets. All such covenants and limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must report periodically to the Series Trustee on compliance with the covenants in the Indenture.

    The Debentures of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons, in denominations of $50 and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Debentures of this series so issued are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Debentures of this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

    All terms used in this Debenture that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

    This Debenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.


ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Debenture to:




(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)




16


(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

agent to transfer this Debenture on the books of the Security Registrar. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.


Dated:

 

Signature:
Signature Guarantee:

(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Debenture)

    Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

17



ARTICLE VII

ORIGINAL ISSUE OF SERIES SECURITIES

    Section 7.1  Original Issue of Series Securities.  Series Securities in the aggregate principal amount of $154,700,000 (or up to $177,836,000, if the Over-Allotment Option is exercised) may, upon execution of this Third Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver said Series Securities in accordance with a Company Order. The Issue Date of the Series Securities shall be deemed to be December 5, 2001.


ARTICLE VIII

MISCELLANEOUS

    Section 8.1  Effectiveness.  This Third Supplemental Indenture will become effective upon its execution and delivery.

    Section 8.2  Successors and Assigns.  All of the covenants, promises, stipulations and agreements of the Company contained in the Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this First Supplemental Indenture, will bind the Company and its successors and assigns and will inure to the benefit of the Original Trustee and the Series Trustee and their respective successors and assigns.

    Section 8.3  Further Assurances.  The Company will, at its own cost and expense, execute and deliver any documents or agreements, and take any other actions, which the Original Trustee or the Series Trustee or their respective counsel may from time to time request in order to assure the Original Trustee or the Series Trustee of the benefits of the rights granted to the Trustee or the Series Trustee under the Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Third Supplemental Indenture.

    Section 8.4  Effect of Recitals.  The recitals in this Third Supplemental Indenture are made by the Company and not by the Original Trustee or the Series Trustee, and neither the Original Trustee nor the Series Trustee shall be responsible for the validity or sufficiency hereof.

    Section 8.5  Ratification of Indenture.  The Indenture as supplemented by this Third Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and this Third Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

    Section 8.6  Governing Law.  THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH SERIES SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

    Section 8.7  Counterparts.  This Third Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of separate counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such separate counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

18


    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Third Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, on the date or dates indicated in the acknowledgments and as of the day and year first above written.

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 


    Name:
Title:

 

 

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION,
as Original Trustee

 

 

By:

 


    Name:
Title:

 

 

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Series Trustee

 

 

By:

 


    Name:
Title:



QuickLinks

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE II AMENDMENTS
ARTICLE III APPOINTMENT OF AND ACCEPTANCE BY SERIES TRUSTEE
ARTICLE IV GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SERIES SECURITIES
ARTICLE V EXPENSES
ARTICLE VI FORM OF SERIES SECURITY
BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION 7.50% SENIOR DEBENTURE DUE 2006
CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
(FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE)
ASSIGNMENT
ARTICLE VII ORIGINAL ISSUE OF SERIES SECURITIES
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.4



BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

AND

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY

AS PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT


PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT


DATED AS OF DECEMBER 5, 2001





TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

Section 1.1

 

Definitions

 

1
Section 1.2   Compliance Certificates and Opinions   9
Section 1.3.   Form of Documents Delivered to Agent   9
Section 1.4.   Acts of Holders; Record Dates   9
Section 1.5.   Notices   10
Section 1.6.   Notice to Holders; Waiver   11
Section 1.7.   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents   11
Section 1.8.   Successors and Assigns   11
Section 1.9.   Separability Clause   12
Section 1.10.   Benefits of Agreement   12
Section 1.11.   Governing Law   12
Section 1.12.   Legal Holidays   12
Section 1.13.   Counterparts   12
Section 1.14.   Inspection of Agreement   12

ARTICLE II
CERTIFICATE FORMS

Section 2.1.

 

Forms of Certificates Generally

 

12
Section 2.2.   Form of Agent's Certificate of Authentication   13

ARTICLE III
THE UNITS

Section 3.1.

 

Title and Terms; Denominations

 

13
Section 3.2.   Rights and Obligations Evidenced by the Certificates   13
Section 3.3.   Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating   14
Section 3.4.   Temporary Certificates   14
Section 3.5.   Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange   15
Section 3.6.   Book-Entry Interests   16
Section 3.7.   Notices to Holders   16
Section 3.8.   Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency   17
Section 3.9.   Definitive Certificates   17
Section 3.10.   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Certificates   17
Section 3.11.   Persons Deemed Owners   18
Section 3.12.   Cancellation   18
Section 3.13.   Establishment Stripped of Units   18
Section 3.14.   Reestablishment of Normal Units   19
Section 3.15.   Transfer of Collateral upon Occurrence of Termination Event   20
Section 3.16.   No Consent to Assumption   21
Section 3.17   CUSIP Numbers   21

ARTICLE IV
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

Section 4.1.

 

Payment of Distributions; Rights to Distributions Preserved; Notice

 

21
Section 4.2.   Notice and Voting   22
Section 4.3.   Distribution of Senior Debentures   22
Section 4.4.   Tax Event Redemption   22

i


Section 4.5.   Consent to Treatment for Tax Purposes   23

ARTICLE V
THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS; THE REMARKETING

Section 5.1.

 

Purchase of Shares of Common Stock

 

23
Section 5.2.   Payment of Purchase Price; Remarketing   24
Section 5.3.   Issuance of Shares of Common Stock   27
Section 5.4.   Adjustment of Settlement Rate   28
Section 5.5.   Notice of Adjustments and Certain Other Events.   32
Section 5.6.   Termination Event; Notice   33
Section 5.7.   Early Settlement   34
Section 5.8.   Early Settlement Upon Merger   35
Section 5.9.   Charges and Taxes   36
Section 5.10.   No Fractional Shares   36

ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES

Section 6.1.

 

Unconditional Right of Holders to Purchase Common Stock

 

36
Section 6.2.   Restoration of Rights and Remedies   36
Section 6.3.   Rights and Remedies Cumulative   37
Section 6.4.   Delay or Omission Not Waiver   37
Section 6.5.   Undertaking for Costs   37
Section 6.6.   Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws   37

ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT

Section 7.1.

 

Certain Duties and Responsibilities

 

37
Section 7.2.   Notice of Default   38
Section 7.3.   Certain Rights of Agent   38
Section 7.4.   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Units   39
Section 7.5.   May Hold Units   39
Section 7.6.   Money Held in Custody   39
Section 7.7.   Compensation and Reimbursement   39
Section 7.8.   Corporate Agent Required; Eligibility   39
Section 7.9.   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor   40
Section 7.10.   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor   41
Section 7.11.   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business   41
Section 7.12.   Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders   41
Section 7.13.   No Obligations of Agent   41
Section 7.14.   Tax Compliance   42

ARTICLE VIII
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS

Section 8.1.

 

Supplemental Agreements Without Consent of Holders

 

42
Section 8.2.   Supplemental Agreements with Consent of Holders   42
Section 8.3.   Execution of Supplemental Agreements   43
Section 8.4.   Effect of Supplemental Agreements   43
Section 8.5.   Reference to Supplemental Agreements   43

ARTICLE IX
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

ii



Section 9.1.

 

Covenant Not to Merge, Consolidate, Sell or Convey Property Except Under Certain Conditions

 

43
Section 9.2.   Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation   44
Section 9.3.   Opinion of Counsel Given to Agent   44

ARTICLE X
COVENANTS

Section 10.1.

 

Performance Under Purchase Contracts

 

44
Section 10.2.   Maintenance of Office or Agency   44
Section 10.3.   Company to Reserve Common Stock   45
Section 10.4.   Covenants as to Common Stock   45
Section 10.5.   Statements of Officer of the Company as to Default   45

ARTICLE XI
TRUST INDENTURE ACT

Section 11.1.

 

Trust Indenture Act; Application

 

45
Section 11.2.   Lists of Holders of Securities   45
Section 11.3.   Reports by the Agent   46
Section 11.4.   Periodic Reports to Agent   46
Section 11.5.   Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent   46
Section 11.6.   Defaults; Waiver   46
Section 11.7.   Agent's Knowledge of Defaults   46
Section 11.8.   Direction of Agent   46

iii



EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A   Form of Normal Units Certificate
EXHIBIT B   Form of Stripped Units Certificate
EXHIBIT C   Instruction from Purchase Contract Agent to Collateral Agent
EXHIBIT D   Instruction to Purchase Contract Agent
EXHIBIT E   Forms of Remarketing Agreement


PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT

    PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT, dated as of December 5, 2001, between Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and BNY Western Trust Company, a California banking corporation, acting as purchase contract agent for the Holders of Units from time to time (the "Agent").

    The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Certificates evidencing the Units.

    All things necessary to make the Purchase Contracts, when the Certificates are executed by the Company and authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered by the Agent, as provided in this Agreement, the valid obligations of the Company, and to constitute this Agreement a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

    For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Units by the Holders thereof, it is mutually agreed as follows:


ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

    Section 1.1.  Definitions.  For all purposes of this Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

    "Act" when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

    "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

    "Agent" means the Person named as the "Agent" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Agent shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Agreement, and thereafter "Agent" shall mean such Person.

    "Agent-purchased Treasury Consideration" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(i).

    "Agreement" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more agreements supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

    "Average Trading Price" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

    "Bankruptcy Code" means title 11 of the United States Code, or any other law of the United States that from time to time provides a uniform system of bankruptcy laws.

    "Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book-Entry Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book-Entry Interest as reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency or on the books of


a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).

    "Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of such Board or any other committee of such Board duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Board hereunder.

    "Board Resolution" means (i) a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, the Securities Offering Committee of the Board of Directors or any other duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, (ii) a copy of a unanimous written consent of the Board of Directors, the Securities Offering Committee of the Board of Directors or any other duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors or (iii) a certificate signed by the authorized officer or officers to whom the Board of Directors, the Securities Offering Committee of the Board of Directors or any other duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors has delegated its authority, and in each case, delivered to the Agent.

    "Book-Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate, ownership and transfers of which shall be maintained and made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 3.6.

    "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions and trust companies in The City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

    "Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated, whether voting or non-voting) corporate stock or similar interests in other types of entities.

    "Cash Merger" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8.

    "Certificate" means a Normal Units Certificate or a Stripped Units Certificate.

    "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing Agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as a depositary for the Units and in whose name, or in the name of a nominee of that organization, shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall undertake to effect book-entry transfers and pledges of the Units.

    "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.

    "Closing Price" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

    "Collateral" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 of the Pledge Agreement.

    "Collateral Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent under the Pledge Agreement until a successor Collateral Agent shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Pledge Agreement, and thereafter "Collateral Agent" shall mean the Person who is then the Collateral Agent thereunder.

    "Collateral Substitution" has the meaning specified in Section 3.13.

    "Common Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 1.1 of the Declaration.

    "Common Stock" means the common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company.

2


    "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Agreement, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor.

    "Constituent Person" has the meaning specified in Section 5.4(b).

    "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the Agent at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington 98101, except that for purposes of Section 10.2, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Agent in The City of New York, which office at the date hereof is located at BNY Western Trust Company, c/o The Bank of New York, Corporate Trust Window, 15 Broad Street, New York, New York 10007.

    "Coupon Rate" means the percentage rate per annum at which each Senior Debenture will bear interest initially.

    "Current Market Price" has the meaning specified in Section 5.4(a)(8).

    "Custodial Agent" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Custodial Agent under the Pledge Agreement until a successor Custodial Agent shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Pledge Agreement, and thereafter "Custodial Agent" shall mean the Person who is then the Custodial Agent thereunder.

    "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated December 5, 2001, of Boise Cascade Trust I, among the Company, as the sponsor, the trustees named therein and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

    "Default" has the meaning specified in Section 10.5.

    "Depositary" means, initially, DTC, until another Clearing Agency becomes its successor.

    "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency.

    "Early Settlement" has the meaning specified in Section 5.7(a).

    "Early Settlement Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 5.7(a).

    "Early Settlement Date" has the meaning specified in Section 5.7(a).

    "Early Settlement Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 5.7(b).

    "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

    "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

    "Expiration Time" has the meaning specified in Section 5.4(a)(6).

    "Failed Remarketing" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(ii).

    "Fair Market Value" with respect to securities distributed in a Spin-Off means (a) in the case of any Spin-Off that is effected simultaneously with an Initial Public Offering of such securities, the initial public offering price of those securities, and (b) in the case of any other Spin-Off, the average of the Sale Price of those securities over the first 10 Trading Days after the effective date of such Spin-Off.

    "Global Certificate" means a Certificate that evidences all or part of the Units and is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee thereof.

    "Global Preferred Security Certificate" means a certificate evidencing the rights and obligations of a Holder in respect of the number of Preferred Securities specified on such certificate and which is registered in the name of a Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof.

3


    "Holder" means the Person in whose name the Unit evidenced by a Normal Units Certificate and/or a Stripped Units Certificate is registered in the related Normal Units Register and/or the Stripped Units Register, as the case may be.

    "Indenture" means that certain Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Depositor and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1989, the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Depositor and the original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Depositor, the Original Trustee and BNY Western Trust Company, as series trustee, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time.

    "Indenture Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee under the Indenture or any successor thereto.

    "Initial Public Offering" with respect to a Spin-Off means the first time securities of the same class or type as the securities being distributed in such Spin-Off are bona fide offered to the public for cash.

    "Issuer Order" or "Issuer Request" means a written order or request signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Controller, the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary (or other officer performing similar functions) of the Company and delivered to the Agent.

    "Merger Early Settlement" has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

    "Merger Early Settlement Amount" has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

    "Merger Early Settlement Date" has the meaning specified in Section 5.8.

    "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

    "Normal Unit" means the collective rights and obligations of a Holder of a Normal Units Certificate in respect of a Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, subject in each case to the Pledge thereof, and the related Purchase Contract.

    "Normal Units Certificate" means a certificate evidencing the rights and obligations of a Holder in respect of the number of Normal Units specified on such certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.

    "Normal Units Register" and "Normal Units Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

    "NYSE" means The New York Stock Exchange, Inc.

    "Officer's Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Controller, the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary (or other officer performing similar functions) of the Company and delivered to the Agent.

    "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or an Affiliate and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Agent.

    "Opt-out Treasury Consideration" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(iv).

4


    "Outstanding" or "Outstanding Units" means, as of the date of determination, all Normal Units or Stripped Units evidenced by Certificates theretofore authenticated, executed and delivered under this Agreement, except:

provided, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite number of the Normal Units or Stripped Units have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Normal Units or Stripped Units owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Agent shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Normal Units or Stripped Units which a Responsible Officer of the Agent actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Normal Units or Stripped Units so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding Units if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Agent the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Normal Units or Stripped Units and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

    "Payment Date" means each March 16, June 16, September 16, and December 16, commencing March 16, 2002.

    "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

    "Pledge" means the pledge under the Pledge Agreement of the Preferred Securities, the Treasury Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, in each case constituting a part of the Units, property, cash, securities, financial assets and security entitlements of the Collateral Agent (as defined in the Pledge Agreement), the Senior Debentures delivered to the Collateral Agent upon liquidation of the Trust, and any proceeds of any of the foregoing.

    "Pledge Agreement" means the Pledge Agreement, dated as of the date hereof, by and among the Company, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Agent, on its own behalf and as attorney-in-fact for the Holders from time to time of the Units.

    "Pledged Preferred Securities" has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

    "Pledged Treasury Consideration" has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

    "Pledged Treasury Securities" has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

    "Predecessor Certificate" means a Predecessor Normal Units Certificate or a Predecessor Stripped Units Certificate.

5


    "Predecessor Stripped Units Certificate" of any particular Stripped Units Certificate means every previous Stripped Units Certificate evidencing all or a portion of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder under the Stripped Units evidenced thereby; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Stripped Units Certificate authenticated and delivered under Section 3.10 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Stripped Units Certificate shall be deemed to evidence the same rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Stripped Units Certificate.

    "Predecessor Normal Units Certificate" of any particular Normal Units Certificate means every previous Normal Units Certificate evidencing all or a portion of the rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder under the Normal Units evidenced thereby; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Normal Units Certificate authenticated and delivered under Section 3.10 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Normal Units Certificate shall be deemed to evidence the same rights and obligations of the Company and the Holder as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Normal Units Certificate.

    "Preferred Securities" means the 7.50% Preferred Securities of the Trust, each having a stated liquidation amount of $50, representing, together with the Common Securities, undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

    "Property Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, as property trustee under the Declaration, or any successor thereto that is a financial institution unaffiliated with the Company.

    "Purchase Contract" when used with respect to any Unit, means the contract forming a part of such Unit and obligating the Company to sell and the Holder of such Unit to purchase, Common Stock, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in Article Five.

    "Purchase Contract Settlement Fund" has the meaning specified in Section 5.3.

    "Purchase Price" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

    "Purchased Shares" has the meaning specified in Section 5.4(a)(6).

    "Quarterly Payment Date" means each March 16, June 16, September 16, and December 16, commencing March 16, 2002.

    "Record Date" for the distribution payable on any Payment Date means, as to any Global Certificate, the Business Day next preceding such Payment Date, and as to any other Certificate, a day selected by the Company which shall be more than one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior to such Payment Date.

    "Redemption Amount" means the amount payable with respect to the Agent on behalf of the holders of Preferred Securities held as part of Normal Units in the event of a Tax Event Redemption, as provided under the Declaration.

    "Redemption Date" has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

    "Redemption Treasury Portfolio" has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

    "Register" means the Normal Units Register and the Stripped Units Register.

    "Registrar" means the Normal Units Registrar and the Stripped Units Registrar.

    "Remarketing Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(i).

    "Remarketing Agreement" means the Remarketing Agreement to be entered into by and among the Company, the Trust, the Remarketing Agent and the Agent.

    "Remarketing Date" means the fourth Business Day preceding September 16, 2004.

6


    "Remarketing Fee" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b)(i).

    "Remarketing Value" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1(b)(i).

    "Reorganization Event" has the meaning specified in Section 5.4(b).

    "Responsible Officer" means, when used with respect to the Agent, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Agent (or any successor of the Agent), including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or any other officer of the Agent who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Agreement.

    "Sale Price" of any securities distributed in a Spin-Off on any Trading Day means the closing sale price per share (or if no closing price is reported, the average of the bid and asked prices or, if more than one in either case, the average of the average bid and average asked prices) on such Trading Day as reported in composite transactions for the principal U.S. securities exchange on which such securities are traded or, if the securities are not listed on a U.S. national or regional securities exchange, as reported by Nasdaq.

    "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

    "Securities Intermediary" means JPMorgan Chase Bank, in its capacity as Securities Intermediary under the Pledge Agreement, together with its successors in such capacity.

    "Senior Debentures" means the series of senior debt securities of the Company designated the 7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006, to be issued under the Indenture.

    "Separate Preferred Securities" has the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

    "Settlement Date" means any Early Settlement Date or Merger Early Settlement Date or the Stock Purchase Date.

    "Settlement Rate" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

    "Spin-Off" means a dividend or other distribution of shares of Capital Stock of any class or series, or similar equity interests, of or relating to a subsidiary or other business unit of the Company.

    "Stated Amount" means, with respect to any one Preferred Security, Normal Unit or Stripped Unit, $50.

    "Stock Purchase Date" means December 16, 2004.

    "Stripped Unit" means the collective rights and obligations of a holder of a Stripped Units Certificate in respect of a 1/20 undivided beneficial interest in a Treasury Security, subject in each case to the Pledge thereof, and the related Purchase Contract.

    "Stripped Units Certificate" means a certificate evidencing the rights and obligations of a Holder in respect of the number of Stripped Units specified on such certificate, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto.

    "Stripped Units Register" and "Stripped Units Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

    "Subsequent Remarketing Date" means, provided there has been one or more Failed Remarketings, the date on which the Remarketing Agent has consummated a successful remarketing in accordance with Section 5.2(b)(ii) hereof.

    "Tax Event" has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

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    "Tax Event Redemption" has the meaning specified in the Indenture.

    "Termination Date" means the date, if any, on which a Termination Event occurs.

    "Termination Event" means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i) at any time on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, a judgment, decree or court order shall have been entered granting relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar Federal or state law, adjudicating the Company to be insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization or liquidation of the Company, and, unless such judgment, decree or order shall have been entered within 60 days prior to the Stock Purchase Date, such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or (ii) a judgment, decree or court order for the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of its property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, shall have been entered, and, unless such judgment, decree or order shall have been entered within 60 days prior to the Stock Purchase Date, such judgment, decree or order shall have continued undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days, or (iii) at any time on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date the Company shall file a petition for relief under the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar federal or state law, or shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or liquidation under the Bankruptcy Code or any other similar federal or state law, or shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of its property, or shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due.

    "Threshold Appreciation Price" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

    "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

    "Trading Day" means, with respect to any subject securities, a day on which such securities (i) are not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business and (ii) have traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of such securities.

    "Treasury Consideration" means the Agent-purchased Treasury Consideration or the Opt-out Treasury Consideration.

    "Treasury Security" means a zero coupon U.S. Treasury security (CUSIP No. 912803AB9) maturing on November 15, 2004 that by its terms will pay to its holder $1,000 on such maturity date.

    "Trust" means Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any successor thereto by merger or consolidation.

    "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement dated November 29, 2001 among the Company, the Trust and the underwriters named therein.

    "Unit" means a Normal Unit or a Stripped Unit.

    "Vice-President" means, with respect to the Company and the Agent, any vice-president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title "vice-president."

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    Section 1.2.  Compliance Certificates and Opinions.  Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, upon any application or request by the Company to the Agent to take any action under any provision of this Agreement, the Company shall furnish to the Agent an Officer's Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Agreement relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, if requested by the Agent, an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, 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 Agreement relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

    Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Agreement shall include:

    Section 1.3.  Form of Documents Delivered to Agent.  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 such Persons as to 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 such certificate or 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 such 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 Agreement, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

    Section 1.4.  Acts of Holders; Record Dates.  (a)   Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Agreement to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by 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 Agent and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a

9


writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Agreement and (subject to Section 7.1) conclusive in favor of the Agent and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

    With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company may designate any date as the "Expiration Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the Agent in writing, and to each Holder of Units in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

    Section 1.5.  Notices.  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Agreement to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

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    Section 1.6.  Notice to Holders; Waiver.  Where this Agreement provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the applicable 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 Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Agreement 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 Holders shall be filed with the Agent, 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 or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Agent shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

    Section 1.7.  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.

    Section 1.8.  Successors and Assigns.  All covenants and agreements in this Agreement by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

11


    Section 1.9.  Separability Clause.  In case any provision in this Agreement or in the securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof and thereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

    Section 1.10.  Benefits of Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement or in the Units, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors hereunder and, to the extent provided hereby, the Holders, any benefits or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement. The Holders from time to time shall be beneficiaries of this Agreement and shall be bound by all of the terms and conditions hereof and of the Units evidenced by their Certificates by their acceptance of delivery of such Certificates.

    Section 1.11.  Governing Law.  This Agreement and the Units shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

    Section 1.12.  Legal Holidays.  In any case where any Payment Date shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the Normal Units Certificates) payments on the Preferred Securities shall not be made on such date, but such payments shall be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Payment Date, provided that no interest or distributions shall accrue or be payable by the Company for the period from and after any such Payment Date, except that, if such next succeeding Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Payment Date.

    In any case where the Stock Purchase Date shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the Certificates), the Purchase Contracts shall not be performed on such date, but the Purchase Contracts shall be performed on the immediately following Business Day with the same force and effect as if performed on the Stock Purchase Date.

    Section 1.13.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts by the parties hereto, each of which, when so executed and delivered, shall be deemed an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

    Section 1.14.  Inspection of Agreement.  A copy of this Agreement shall be available at all reasonable times during normal business hours at the Corporate Trust Office for inspection by any Holder.


ARTICLE II
CERTIFICATE FORMS

    Section 2.1.  Forms of Certificates Generally.  The Normal Units Certificates (including the form of Purchase Contract forming part of the Normal Units evidenced thereby) shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A hereto, with such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as may be required by the rules of any securities exchange or quotation system on which the Normal Units are listed or quoted for trading or any depositary therefor, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers of the Company executing such Normal Units Certificates, as evidenced by their execution of the Normal Units Certificates.

    The definitive Normal Units Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such Normal Units Certificates, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

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    The Stripped Units Certificates (including the form of Purchase Contracts forming part of the Stripped Units evidenced thereby) shall be in substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B hereto, with such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as may be required by the rules of any securities exchange or the quotation system on which the Stripped Units may be listed or quoted for trading or any depositary therefor, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers of the Company executing such Stripped Units Certificates, as evidenced by their execution of the Stripped Units Certificates.

    The definitive Stripped Units Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing the Stripped Units Certificates evidenced by such Stripped Units Certificates, consistent with the provisions of this Agreement, as evidenced by their execution thereof.

    Every Global Certificate authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS CERTIFICATE IS A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A CERTIFICATE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

    Section 2.2.  Form of Agent's Certificate of Authentication.  The form of the Agent's certificate of authentication of the Normal Units shall be in substantially the form set forth on the form of the Normal Units Certificates.

    The form of the Agent's certificate of authentication of the Stripped Units shall be in substantially the form set forth on the form of the Stripped Units Certificates.


ARTICLE III
THE UNITS

    Section 3.1.  Title and Terms; Denominations.  The aggregate number of Normal Units and Stripped Units, if any, evidenced by Certificates authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered hereunder is limited to 3,000,000 (3,450,000 if the Underwriters' over-allotment option pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full), except for Certificates authenticated, executed and delivered upon registration of transfer of, in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Certificates pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.10, 3.13, 3.14, 5.7, 5.8, or 8.5.

    The Certificates shall be issuable only in registered form and only in denominations of a single Unit and any integral multiple thereof.

    Section 3.2.  Rights and Obligations Evidenced by the Certificates.  Each Normal Units Certificate shall evidence the number of Normal Units specified therein, with each such Normal Unit representing the ownership by the Holder thereof of a beneficial interest in a Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, subject to the Pledge of such Preferred Security or such Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, by such Holder pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the Holder thereof and the Company under one Purchase Contract. The Agent as attorney-in-fact for, and on behalf of, the Holder of each Normal Unit shall pledge, pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, the Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, forming a part of such Normal Unit, to the Collateral Agent and grant to the Collateral Agent

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a security interest in the right, title, and interest of such Holder in such Preferred Security or such Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, for the benefit of the Company, to secure the obligation of the Holder under each Purchase Contract to purchase the Common Stock of the Company. Prior to the purchase of shares of Common Stock under each Purchase Contract, such Purchase Contracts shall not entitle the Holders of Normal Units Certificates to any of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote or receive any dividends or other payments or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or for the election of directors of the Company or for any other matter, or any other rights whatsoever as stockholders of the Company.

    Each Stripped Units Certificate shall evidence the number of Stripped Units specified therein, with each such Stripped Unit representing the ownership by the Holder thereof of a 1/20 undivided beneficial interest in a Treasury Security, subject to the Pledge of such interest in such Treasury Security by such Holder pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and the rights and obligations of the Holder thereof and the Company under one Purchase Contract. Prior to the purchase of shares of Common Stock under each Purchase Contract, such Purchase Contracts shall not entitle the Holders of Stripped Units Certificates to any of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock, including, without limitation, the right to vote or receive any dividends or other payments or to consent or to receive notice as stockholders in respect of the meetings of stockholders or for the election of directors of the Company or for any other matter, or any other rights whatsoever as stockholders of the Company.

    Section 3.3.  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.  Subject to the provisions of Sections 3.13 and 3.14, upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Company may deliver Certificates executed by the Company to the Agent for authentication, execution on behalf of the Holders and delivery, together with its Issuer Order for authentication of such Certificates, and the Agent in accordance with such Issuer Order shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holders and deliver such Certificates.

    The Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Controller, the Treasurer or the Corporate Secretary (or other officer performing similar functions) of the Company and delivered to the Agent. The signature of any of these officers on the Certificates may be manual or facsimile.

    Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers 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 Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of such Certificates.

    No Purchase Contract evidenced by a Certificate shall be valid until such Certificate has been executed on behalf of the Holder by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Agent, as such Holder's attorney-in-fact. Such signature by an authorized signatory of the Agent shall be conclusive evidence that the Holder of such Certificate has entered into the Purchase Contracts evidenced by such Certificate.

    Each Certificate shall be dated the date of its authentication. No Certificate shall be entitled to any benefit under this Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Certificate a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by an authorized signatory of the Agent by manual signature, and such certificate upon any Certificate shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Certificate has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

    Section 3.4.  Temporary Certificates.  Pending the preparation of definitive Certificates, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holders, and deliver, in lieu of such definitive Certificates, temporary Certificates which are in

14


substantially the forms set forth in Exhibit A and Exhibit B hereto, as the case may be, with such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as may be required by the rules of any securities exchange on which the Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, are listed, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers of the Company executing such Certificates, as evidenced by their execution of the Certificates.

    If temporary Certificates are issued, the Company will cause definitive Certificates to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Certificates, the temporary Certificates shall be exchangeable for definitive Certificates upon surrender of the temporary Certificates at the Corporate Trust Office, at the expense of the Company and without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Certificates, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder, and deliver in exchange therefor, one or more definitive Certificates of like tenor and denominations and evidencing a like number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, as the temporary Certificate or Certificates so surrendered. Until so exchanged, the temporary Certificates shall in all respects evidence the same benefits and the same obligations with respect to the Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, evidenced thereby as definitive Certificates.

    Section 3.5.  Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.  The Agent shall keep at the Corporate Trust Office a register (the "Normal Units Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Agent shall provide for the registration of Normal Units Certificates and of transfers of Normal Units Certificates (the Agent, in such capacity, the "Normal Units Registrar") and a register (the "Stripped Units Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Agent shall provide for the registration of the Stripped Units Certificates and transfers of Stripped Units Certificates (the Agent, in such capacity, the "Stripped Units Registrar").

    Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate at the Corporate Trust Office, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the designated transferee or transferees, and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Certificates of like tenor and denominations, and evidencing a like number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be.

    At the option of the Holder, Certificates may be exchanged for other Certificates, of like tenor and denominations and evidencing a like number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, upon surrender of the Certificates to be exchanged at the Corporate Trust Office. Whenever any Certificates are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder, and deliver the Certificates which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

    All Certificates issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of a Certificate shall evidence the ownership of the same number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, and be entitled to the same benefits and subject to the same obligations, under this Agreement as the Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, evidenced by the Certificate surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

    Every Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Agent) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Agent duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

    No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of a Certificate, but the Company and the Agent may require payment from the Holder of a sum sufficient to cover any tax

15


or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Certificates, other than any exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.6, 3.9 and 8.5 not involving any transfer.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall not be obligated to authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder and deliver, any Certificate presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange on or after the Business Day immediately preceding the earlier of the Stock Purchase Date or the Termination Date. In lieu of delivery of a new Certificate, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions specified above in this Section and receipt of appropriate registration or transfer instructions from such Holder, the Agent shall (i) if the Stock Purchase Date has occurred, deliver the shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of the Purchase Contracts forming a part of the Units evidenced by such Certificate, (ii) in the case of Normal Units, if a Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the Stock Purchase Date, transfer the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as applicable, relating to such Normal Units, or (iii) in the case of Stripped Units, if a Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the Stock Purchase Date, transfer the Treasury Securities relating to such Stripped Units, in each case subject to the applicable conditions and in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article Five.

    Section 3.6.  Book-Entry Interests.  The Certificates, on original issuance, will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global Certificates, to be delivered to the Depositary by, or on behalf of, the Company. Each such Global Certificate shall initially be registered on the books and records of the Company in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Depositary, and no Beneficial Owner will receive a definitive Certificate representing such Beneficial Owner's interest in such Global Certificate, except as provided in Section 3.9. The Agent shall enter into an agreement with the Depositary if so requested by the Company. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Certificates have been issued to Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 3.9:

    Section 3.7.  Notices to Holders.  Whenever a notice or other communication to the Holders is required to be given under this Agreement, the Company or the Company's agent shall give such notices and communications to the Holders and, with respect to any Units registered in the name of a Clearing Agency or the nominee of a Clearing Agency, the Company or the Company's agent shall, except as set forth herein, have no obligations to the Beneficial Owners.

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    Section 3.8.  Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.  If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities depositary with respect to the Units, the Company may, in its sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to the Units.

    Section 3.9.  Definitive Certificates.  If (i) a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities depositary with respect to the Units and a successor Clearing Agency is not appointed within 90 days after such discontinuance pursuant to Section 3.8, (ii) the Company elects to terminate the book-entry system through the Clearing Agency with respect to the Units, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing a default by the Company in respect of its obligations under one or more Purchase Contracts, then upon surrender of the Global Certificates representing the Book-Entry Interests with respect to the Units by the Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the Company shall cause definitive Certificates to be delivered to Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing Agency. The Company shall not be liable for any delay in delivery of such instructions and may conclusively rely on and shall be protected in relying on, such instructions.

    Section 3.10.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Certificates.  If any mutilated Certificate is surrendered to the Agent, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder, and deliver in exchange therefor, a new Certificate at the cost of the Holder, evidencing the same number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, and bearing a Certificate number not contemporaneously outstanding.

    If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Agent (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate, and (ii) such security or indemnity at the cost of the Holder as may be required by them to hold each of them and any agent of any of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Agent that such Certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder, and deliver to the Holder, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate, evidencing the same number of Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, and bearing a Certificate number not contemporaneously outstanding.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to execute and deliver to the Agent, and the Agent shall not be obligated to authenticate, execute on behalf of the Holder, and deliver to the Holder, a Certificate on or after the Business Day immediately preceding the earlier of the Stock Purchase Date or the Termination Date. In lieu of delivery of a new Certificate, upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions specified above in this Section and receipt of appropriate registration or transfer instructions from such Holder, the Agent shall (i) if the Stock Purchase Date has occurred, deliver the shares of Common Stock issuable in respect of the Purchase Contracts forming a part of the Units evidenced by such Certificate, or (ii) if a Termination Event shall have occurred prior to the Stock Purchase Date, transfer the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities, as the case may be, evidenced thereby, in each case subject to the applicable conditions and in accordance with the applicable provisions of Article Five.

    Upon the issuance of any new Certificate under this Section, the Company and the Agent may require the payment by the Holder 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 Agent) connected therewith.

    Every new Certificate issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company and of the Holder in respect of the Unit evidenced thereby, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate (and the Units evidenced thereby) shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits and be subject to all the obligations of this Agreement equally and proportionately with any and all other Certificates delivered hereunder.

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    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 Certificates.

    Section 3.11.  Persons Deemed Owners.  Prior to due presentment of a Certificate for registration of transfer, the Company and the Agent, and any agent of the Company or the Agent, may treat the Person in whose name such Certificate is registered as the owner of the Units evidenced thereby, for the purpose of receiving distributions on the Preferred Securities, performance of the Purchase Contracts and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any such distributions constituting a part of the Units evidenced thereby shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, and neither the Company nor the Agent, nor any agent of the Company or the Agent, shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

    Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Certificate, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Agent or any agent of the Company or the Agent, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Clearing Agency (or its nominee), as a Holder, with respect to such Global Certificate or impair, as between such Clearing Agency and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Certificate, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of rights of such Clearing Agency (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Certificate.

    Section 3.12.  Cancellation.  All Certificates surrendered (i) for delivery of shares of Common Stock on or after any Settlement Date; (ii) upon the transfer of Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities, as the case may be, after the occurrence of a Termination Event; (iii) upon the registration of a transfer or exchange of a Unit shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Agent, be delivered to the Agent and, if not already cancelled, shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Agent for cancellation any Certificates previously authenticated, executed and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Certificates so delivered shall, upon Issuer Order, be promptly cancelled by the Agent. No Certificates shall be authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holder and delivered in lieu of or in exchange for any Certificates cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Agreement. All cancelled Certificates held by the Agent shall be disposed of by the Agent in accordance with its customary procedures.

    If the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall acquire any Certificate, such acquisition shall not operate as a cancellation of such Certificate unless and until such Certificate is delivered to the Agent cancelled or for cancellation.

    Section 3.13.  Establishment of Stripped Units.  A Holder may separate the Pledged Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as applicable, from the related Purchase Contracts in respect of the Normal Units held by such Holder by substituting for such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, Treasury Securities as set forth below (a "Collateral Substitution"), at any time from and after the date of this Agreement and on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date. To effect a Collateral Substitution, a Holder should (a) deposit with the Collateral Agent Treasury Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of such Normal Units, and (b) transfer the related Normal Units to the Agent accompanied by a notice to the Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, stating that the Holder has transferred the relevant amount of Treasury Securities to the Collateral Agent and requesting that the Agent instruct the Collateral Agent to release the Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, underlying such Normal Units, whereupon the Agent shall promptly give such instruction to the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder may not separate the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, from the related Purchase Contracts in respect of the Normal Units held by such Holder after the fifth Business Day before the

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Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date. Upon receipt of the Treasury Securities described in clause (a) above and the instruction described in clause (b) above, in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Collateral Agent will release to the Agent, on behalf of the Holder, such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, from the Pledge, free and clear of the Company's security interest therein, and upon receipt thereof the Agent shall promptly:

    Holders who elect to separate the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, from the related Purchase Contract and to substitute Treasury Securities for such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, shall be responsible for any fees or expenses payable to the Collateral Agent for its services as Collateral Agent in respect of the substitution, and the Company shall not be responsible for any such fees or expenses.

    Holders may make Collateral Substitutions (i) if Treasury Securities are being substituted for Pledged Preferred Securities, only in integral multiples of 20 Normal Units, or (ii) if the Collateral Substitutions occur after the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, only in integral multiples of Normal Units such that the Treasury Securities to be deposited and the Treasury Consideration to be released are in integral multiples of $1,000.

    In the event a Holder making a Collateral Substitution pursuant to this Section 3.13 fails to effect a book-entry transfer of the Normal Units or fails to deliver a Normal Units Certificate to the Agent after depositing Treasury Securities with the Collateral Agent, the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, constituting a part of such Normal Units, and any distributions on such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, shall be held in the name of the Agent or its nominee in trust for the benefit of such Holder, until such Normal Units are so transferred or the Normal Units Certificate is so delivered, as the case may be, or, with respect to a Normal Units Certificate, such Holder provides evidence satisfactory to the Company and the Agent that such Normal Units Certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required by the Agent and the Company.

    Except as described in this Section 3.13, for so long as the Purchase Contract underlying a Normal Unit remains in effect, such Normal Unit shall not be separable into its constituent parts, and the rights and obligations of the Holder of such Normal Unit in respect of the Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, and the Purchase Contract comprising such Normal Unit may be acquired, and may be transferred and exchanged, only as a Normal Unit.

    Section 3.14.  Reestablishment of Normal Units.  A Holder of Stripped Units may reestablish Normal Units at any time (i) on or prior to the fifth Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date, if a Tax Event Redemption has not occurred, and (ii) on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date, if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred, in each case, by (a) depositing with the Collateral Agent the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration (and identified by reference to the Treasury Consideration then comprising Normal Units), as the case may be, then comprising such number of Normal Units as is equal to such Stripped Units and (b) transferring such Stripped Units to the Agent accompanied by a notice to the Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, stating that the Holder has transferred the relevant amount of Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as

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the case may be, to the Collateral Agent and requesting that the Agent instruct the Collateral Agent to release the Pledged Treasury Securities underlying such Stripped Unit, whereupon the Agent shall promptly give such instruction to the Collateral Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a Holder may not reestablish Normal Units during the period beginning on the fourth Business Day prior to the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, and ending at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day following such dates. Upon receipt of the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, described in clause (a) above and the instruction described in clause (b) above, in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Collateral Agent will release to the Agent, on behalf of the Holder, such Pledged Treasury Securities from the Pledge, free and clear of the Company's security interest therein, and upon receipt thereof the Agent shall promptly:

    Holders of Stripped Units may reestablish Normal Units (i) only in integral multiples of 20 Stripped Units for 20 Normal Units or (ii) if the reestablishment occurs after a Tax Event Redemption has occurred or after the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, only in integral multiples of Stripped Units such that the Treasury Consideration to be deposited and the Treasury Securities to be released are in integral multiples of $1,000.

    Except as provided in this Section 3.14, for so long as the Purchase Contract underlying a Stripped Unit remains in effect, such Stripped Unit shall not be separable into its constituent parts, and the rights and obligations of the Holder of such Stripped Unit in respect of the Treasury Security and Purchase Contract comprising such Stripped Unit may be acquired, and may be transferred and exchanged, only as a Stripped Unit.

    Section 3.15.  Transfer of Collateral upon Occurrence of Termination Event.  Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event and the transfer to the Agent of the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities, as the case may be, underlying the Normal Units and the Stripped Units pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Agent shall request transfer instructions with respect to the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities, as the case may be, from each Holder by written request mailed to such Holder at its address as it appears in the Normal Units Register or the Stripped Units Register, as the case may be. Upon book-entry transfer of the Normal Units or Stripped Units or delivery of a Normal Units Certificate or Stripped Units Certificate to the Agent with such transfer instructions, the Agent shall transfer the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities, as the case may be, underlying such Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, to such Holder by book-entry transfer, or other appropriate procedures, in accordance with such instructions. In the event a Holder of Normal Units or Stripped Units fails to effect such transfer or delivery, the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities, as the case may be, underlying such Normal Units or Stripped Units, as the case may be, and any distributions thereon, shall be held in the name of the Agent or its nominee in trust for the benefit of such Holder, until such Normal Units or Stripped Units are transferred or the Normal Units Certificate or Stripped Units Certificate is surrendered or such Holder provides satisfactory evidence that such Normal Units Certificate or Stripped Units Certificate has been destroyed, lost or stolen, together with any indemnity that may be required by the Agent and the Company.

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    Section 3.16.  No Consent to Assumption.  Each Holder of a Unit, by acceptance thereof, shall be deemed expressly to have withheld any consent to the assumption under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise, of the Purchase Contract by the Company, any receiver, liquidator or person or entity performing similar functions or its trustee in the event that the Company becomes the debtor under the Bankruptcy Code or subject to other similar state or federal law providing for reorganization or liquidation.

    Section 3.17  CUSIP Numbers.  The Trust in issuing the Preferred Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders of the Preferred Securities; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Preferred Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Preferred Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.


ARTICLE IV
THE PREFERRED SECURITIES

    Section 4.1.  Payment of Distributions; Rights to Distributions Preserved; Notice.  A distribution on any Preferred Security or a payment on any Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, which is paid on any Payment Date shall, subject to receipt thereof by the Agent from the Collateral Agent as provided by the terms of the Pledge Agreement, be paid to the Person in whose name the Normal Units Certificate (or one or more Predecessor Normal Units Certificates) of which such Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, is a part is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Payment Date.

    Each Normal Units Certificate evidencing Preferred Securities delivered under this Agreement upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Normal Units Certificate shall carry the rights to distributions accumulated and unpaid, and to accumulate distributions, which were carried by the Preferred Securities underlying such other Normal Units Certificate.

    In the case of any Normal Unit with respect to which Early Settlement of the underlying Purchase Contract is effected on an Early Settlement Date, or with respect to which Merger Early Settlement of the underlying Purchase Contract is effected on a Merger Early Settlement Date, or with respect to which a Collateral Substitution is effected, in each case on a date that is after any Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Payment Date, distributions on the Preferred Security or payments on the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, underlying such Normal Unit otherwise payable on such Payment Date shall be payable on such Payment Date notwithstanding such Early Settlement, Merger Early Settlement or Collateral Substitution, as the case may be, and such distributions shall, subject to receipt thereof by the Agent, be payable to the Person in whose name the Normal Units Certificate (or one or more Predecessor Normal Unit Certificates) was registered at the close of business on the Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Normal Unit with respect to which Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement of the underlying Purchase Contract is effected, or with respect to which a Collateral Substitution has been effected, distributions on the related Preferred Securities or payments on the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, that would otherwise be payable after the applicable Settlement Date or after such Collateral Substitution, as the case may be, shall not be payable hereunder to the Holder of such Normal Unit; provided, that to the extent that such Holder continues to hold the Separate Preferred Securities that formerly comprised a part of such Holder's Normal Units, such Holder shall be entitled to receive the distributions on such Separate Preferred Securities.

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    Section 4.2.  Notice and Voting.  Under the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Agent will be entitled to exercise the voting and any other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Preferred Securities but only to the extent instructed by the Holders as described below. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or upon any solicitation of consents, waivers or proxies of holders of Preferred Securities, the Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Holders of Normal Units a notice (a) containing such information as is contained in the notice or solicitation, (b) stating that each Holder on the record date set by the Agent therefor (which, to the extent possible, shall be the same date as the record date for determining the holders of Preferred Securities entitled to vote) shall be entitled to instruct the Agent as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Preferred Securities underlying their Normal Units and (c) stating the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Normal Units on such record date, the Agent shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of Pledged Preferred Securities as to which any particular voting instructions are received. In the absence of specific instructions from the Holder of a Normal Unit, the Agent shall abstain from voting the Pledged Preferred Security underlying such Normal Unit. The Company hereby agrees, if applicable, to solicit Holders of Normal Units to timely instruct the Agent in order to enable the Agent to vote such Pledged Preferred Securities and the Trust shall covenant to such effect in the Declaration.

    Section 4.3.  Distribution of Senior Debentures.  Upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust in accordance with the Declaration, the Liquidation Distribution (as defined in the Declaration) shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent in exchange for the Pledged Preferred Securities. Thereafter, the applicable part of the Liquidation Distribution (as defined in the Declaration) will be substituted for the Pledged Preferred Securities, and will be held by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement to secure the obligations of each Holder of Normal Units to purchase the Common Stock of the Company under the Purchase Contracts constituting a part of such Normal Units. The remaining portion of the Liquidation Distribution shall be distributed to the Holders of Separate Preferred Securities (as defined in the Pledge Agreement). Following a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, the Holders and the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Liquidation Distribution as the Holders and the Collateral Agent had in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities as provided in Articles II, III, IV, V and VI of the Pledge Agreement, and, unless the context otherwise requires, any reference herein to the Preferred Securities or Pledged Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be a reference to such Senior Debentures. The Company may cause to be made in any Normal Units Certificates thereafter to be issued such change in phraseology and form (but not in substance) as may be appropriate to reflect the liquidation of the Trust and the substitution of Senior Debentures for Preferred Securities as Collateral.

    Section 4.4.  Tax Event Redemption.  Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption prior to the Stock Purchase Date or any Remarketing Date, the Redemption Amount payable to the Agent on behalf of the Holders of Normal Units on the Redemption Date with respect to the Preferred Securities shall be delivered by the Agent to the Collateral Agent in exchange for the Pledged Preferred Securities. Pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Collateral Agent will apply an amount equal to the Redemption Amount to purchase on behalf of the Holders of Normal Units, on a pro rata basis, the Redemption Treasury Portfolio and promptly remit the remaining portion of such Redemption Amount, if any, to the Agent for payment to the Holders of such Normal Units on a pro rata basis. The Redemption Treasury Portfolio will be substituted for the Pledged Preferred Securities, and will be held by the Collateral Agent in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement to secure the obligation of each Holder of a Normal Unit to purchase the Common Stock of the Company under the Purchase Contract constituting a part of such Normal Unit. Following the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption prior to the Stock Purchase Date or any Remarketing Date, the Holders of Normal Units and the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests, rights and

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obligations with respect to the Redemption Treasury Portfolio as the Holder of Normal Units and the Collateral Agent had in respect of the Preferred Securities subject to the Pledge thereof as provided in Articles II, III, IV, V, and VI of the Pledge Agreement, and any reference herein to the Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be reference to such Redemption Treasury Portfolio. The Company may cause to be made in any Normal Unit Certificates thereafter to be issued such change in phraseology and form (but not in substance) as may be appropriate to reflect the liquidation of the Trust and the substitution of the Redemption Treasury Portfolio for Preferred Securities as collateral.

    Section 4.5  Consent to Treatment for Tax Purposes.  Each Holder of a Unit, by its acceptance thereof, covenants and agrees to treat itself as the owner, for United States federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes, of (i) the related Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, in the case of the Normal Units, or (ii) the Treasury Securities, in the case of the Stripped Units. Each Holder of Normal Units, by its acceptance thereof, further covenants and agrees to treat the Preferred Securities as indebtedness of the Company for United States federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes.


ARTICLE V
THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS; THE REMARKETING

    Section 5.1.  Purchase of Shares of Common Stock.  Each Purchase Contract shall, unless an Early Settlement has occurred in accordance with Section 5.7, or a Merger Early Settlement has occurred in accordance with Section 5.8, obligate the Holder of the related Unit to purchase, and the Company to sell, on the Stock Purchase Date at a price equal to $50 (the "Purchase Price"), a number of newly issued shares of Common Stock equal to the Settlement Rate unless, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, there shall have occurred a Termination Event with respect to the Unit of which such Purchase Contract is a part. The "Settlement Rate" is equal to (a) if the Average Trading Price (as defined below) is equal to or greater than $38.88 (the "Threshold Appreciation Price"), 1.2860 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, (b) if the Average Trading Price is less than the Threshold Appreciation Price, but is greater than $31.87, the number of shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract equal to the Stated Amount of the related Unit divided by the Average Trading Price and (c) if the Average Trading Price is less than $31.87, 1.5689 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in Section 5.4 (and in each case rounded upward or downward to the nearest 1/10,000th of a share). As provided in Section 5.10, no fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon settlement of Purchase Contracts.

    The "Average Trading Price" means the average of the Closing Price per share of Common Stock on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days ending on the third Trading Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date. The "Closing Price" of the Common Stock on any date of determination means the closing sale price (or, if no closing price is reported, the last reported sale price) of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on such date or, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on the NYSE on any such date, as reported in the composite transactions for the principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is so listed, or if the Common Stock is not so listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if the Common Stock is not so reported, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization, or, if such bid price is not available, the market value of the Common Stock on such date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company.

    Each Holder of a Unit, by its acceptance thereof, irrevocably authorizes the Agent to enter into and perform the related Purchase Contract on its behalf as its attorney-in-fact (including the execution of Certificates on behalf of such Holder), agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof,

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covenants and agrees to perform its obligations under such Purchase Contracts, and consents to the provisions hereof, irrevocably authorizes the Agent as its attorney-in-fact to enter into and perform the Pledge Agreement on its behalf as its attorney-in-fact, and consents to and agrees to be bound by the Pledge of the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities pursuant to the Pledge Agreement; provided that upon a Termination Event, the rights of the Holder of such Unit under the Purchase Contract may be enforced without regard to any other rights or obligations. Each Holder of a Unit, by its acceptance thereof, further covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner provided in Section 5.2 and the Pledge Agreement, but subject to the terms thereof, payments in respect of the Preferred Securities, the appropriate Treasury Consideration or the Treasury Securities to be paid upon settlement of such Holder's obligations to purchase Common Stock under the Purchase Contract, shall be paid on the Stock Purchase Date by the Collateral Agent to the Company in satisfaction of such Holder's obligations under such Purchase Contract.

    Upon registration of transfer of a Certificate, the transferee shall be bound (without the necessity of any other action on the part of such transferee) under the terms of this Agreement, the Purchase Contracts underlying such Certificate and the Pledge Agreement, and the transferor shall be released from the obligations under this Agreement, the Purchase Contracts underlying the Certificates so transferred and the Pledge Agreement. The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Certificate, by its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph.

    Section 5.2.  Payment of Purchase Price; Remarketing.  (a)   Unless a Tax Event Redemption, Termination Event, Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement has occurred, the settlement of the Purchase Contract underlying a Unit will be made in accordance with this Section 5.2.

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    The "Remarketing Value" means the sum of (i) the value at the Remarketing Date or the Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, of U.S. Treasury securities that will pay, on or prior to the Quarterly Payment Date falling on the Stock Purchase Date, an amount of cash equal to the aggregate distributions that are scheduled to be payable on that Quarterly Payment Date, on (1) the Preferred Securities which are included in Normal Units and (2) no distribution payment on the Preferred Securities will then have been deferred and the distribution rate on the Preferred Securities is equal to the Coupon Rate, and (ii) the value at the Remarketing Date or the Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, of U.S. Treasury securities that will pay, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, an amount of cash equal to the Stated Amount of (1) such Preferred Securities that are included in Normal Units and (2) the Separate Preferred Securities, in each case, which are participating in the remarketing; provided that for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), above, the Remarketing Value shall be calculated on the assumptions that the U.S. Treasury securities are highly liquid and mature on or within 35 days prior to the Stock Purchase Date, as determined in good faith by the Remarketing Agent in a manner intended to minimize the Remarketing Value, and the U.S. Treasury securities are valued based on the ask-side price of the Treasury securities at a time between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., New York City time, selected by the Remarketing Agent, on the Remarketing Date or Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, as determined on a third-day settlement basis by a reasonable and customary means selected in good faith by the Remarketing Agent, plus accrued interest to that date.

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    Section 5.3.  Issuance of Shares of Common Stock.  Unless a Termination Event shall have occurred on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date or an Early Settlement or a Merger Early Settlement shall have occurred, on the Stock Purchase Date, upon its receipt of payment in full of the Purchase Price for the shares of Common Stock purchased by the Holders pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article and subject to Section 5.4(b), the Company shall issue and deposit with the Agent, for the benefit of the Holders of the Outstanding Units, one or more certificates representing the newly issued shares of Common Stock registered in the name of the Agent (or its nominee) as custodian for the Holders (such certificates for shares of Common Stock, together with any dividends or distributions

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for which a record date and payment date for such dividend or distribution has occurred after the Stock Purchase Date, being hereinafter referred to as the "Purchase Contract Settlement Fund") to which the Holders are entitled hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, upon surrender of a Certificate to the Agent on or after the Stock Purchase Date, together with settlement instructions thereon duly completed and executed, the Holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor a certificate representing that number of whole shares of Common Stock which such Holder is entitled to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article V (after taking into account all Units then held by such Holder) together with cash in lieu of fractional shares as provided in Section 5.10 and any dividends or distributions with respect to such shares constituting part of the Purchase Contract Settlement Fund, but without any interest thereon, and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be cancelled. Such shares shall be registered in the name of the Holder or the Holder's designee as specified in the settlement instructions provided by the Holder to the Agent. If any shares of Common Stock issued in respect of a Purchase Contract are to be registered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate evidencing such Purchase Contract is registered, no such registration shall be made unless the Person requesting such registration has paid any transfer and other taxes required by reason of such registration in a name other than that of the registered Holder of such Certificate or has established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax either has been paid or is not payable.

    Section 5.4.  Adjustment of Settlement Rate.  (a) Adjustments for Dividends, Distributions, Stock Splits, Spin-Offs, Etc. (1) In case the Company shall pay or make a dividend or other distribution on the Common Stock in Common Stock, the Settlement Rate, as in effect at the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such dividend or other distribution shall be increased by dividing such Settlement Rate by a fraction of which the numerator shall be the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding at the close of business on the date fixed for such determination and the denominator shall be the sum of such number of shares and the total number of shares constituting such dividend or other distribution, such increase to become effective immediately after the opening of business on the day following the date fixed for such determination. For the purposes of this paragraph (1), the number of shares of Common Stock at the time outstanding shall not include shares held in the treasury of the Company but shall include any shares issuable in respect of any scrip certificates issued in lieu of fractions of shares of Common Stock. The Company will not pay any dividend or make any distribution on shares of Common Stock held in the treasury of the Company.

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    Section 5.5.  Notice of Adjustments and Certain Other Events.  (a) Whenever the Settlement Rate is adjusted as herein provided, the Company shall:

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    Section 5.6.  Termination Event; Notice.  The Purchase Contracts and all obligations and rights of the Company and the Holders thereunder, including the rights and obligations of Holders to purchase Common Stock, shall immediately and automatically terminate, without the necessity of any notice or action by any Holder, the Agent or the Company, if, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, a Termination Event shall have occurred. Upon and after the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Normal Units shall thereafter represent the right to receive the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, forming a part of such Normal Units, and the Stripped Units shall thereafter represent the right to receive the Treasury Securities forming a part of such Stripped Units, in each case in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.3 of the Pledge Agreement. Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Company shall promptly but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter give written notice to the Agent, the Collateral Agent and to the Holders, at their addresses as they appear in the Register.

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    Section 5.7.  Early Settlement.  (a) Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of this Section 5.7, Purchase Contracts underlying Units having an aggregate Stated Amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof may, at the option of the Holder thereof, be settled early ("Early Settlement") on or prior to the seventh Business Day immediately preceding December 16, 2004 or any Subsequent Remarketing Date; provided however, that if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred and the Treasury Consideration has become a component of the Normal Units, Purchase Contracts underlying Normal Units may be settled early, on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date, but only in an aggregate amount of $1,000 or in an integral multiple thereof. In order to exercise the right to effect Early Settlement with respect to any Purchase Contracts, the Holder of the Certificate evidencing the related Units shall deliver such Certificate to the Agent at the Corporate Trust Office duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or in blank with the form of Election to Settle Early on the reverse thereof duly completed and accompanied by payment (payable to the Company in immediately available funds in an amount (the "Early Settlement Amount") equal to the product of (a) the Stated Amount of such Units times (b) the number of Purchase Contracts with respect to which the Holder has elected to effect Early Settlement. No payment or adjustment shall be made upon Early Settlement of any Purchase Contract on account of dividends on the Common Stock issued upon such Early Settlement. If the foregoing requirements are first satisfied with respect to Purchase Contracts underlying any Unit at or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day, such day shall be the "Early Settlement Date" with respect to such Unit and if such requirements are first satisfied after 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or on a day that is not a Business Day, the "Early Settlement Date" with respect to such Units shall be the next succeeding Business Day.

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    Section 5.8.  Early Settlement Upon Merger.  (a) In the event of a merger or consolidation of the Company of the type described in clause (i) of Section 5.4(b) in which the Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such merger or consolidation is exchanged for consideration consisting of at least 30% cash or cash equivalents (any such event a "Cash Merger"), then the Company (or the successor to the Company hereunder) shall be required to offer the Holder of each Unit the right to settle the Purchase Contract underlying such Unit prior to the Stock Purchase Date ("Merger Early Settlement") as provided herein. On or before the fifth Business Day after the consummation of a Cash Merger, the Company or, at the request and expense of the Company, the Agent, shall give all Holders notice of the occurrence of the Cash Merger and of the right of Merger Early Settlement arising as a result thereof. The Company shall also deliver a copy of such notice to the Agent and the Collateral Agent.

    Each such notice shall contain:

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    Section 5.9.  Charges and Taxes.  The Company will pay all stock transfer and similar taxes attributable to each issuance and delivery of the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase Contracts; provided, that the Company shall not be required to pay any such tax or taxes which may be payable in respect of any exchange of or substitution for a Certificate evidencing a Unit or any issuance of a share of Common Stock in a name other than that of the registered Holder of a Certificate surrendered in respect of the Units evidenced thereby, other than in the name of the Agent, as custodian for such Holder, and the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such share certificates or Certificates unless and until the Person or Persons requesting the transfer or issuance thereof shall have paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

    Section 5.10.  No Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares or scrip or book-entry notations representing fractional shares of Common Stock shall be issued, delivered or recorded upon settlement on the Stock Purchase Date or upon Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement of any Purchase Contracts. If Certificates evidencing more than one Purchase Contract shall be surrendered for settlement at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares of Common Stock which shall be delivered upon settlement shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Purchase Contract or Purchase Contracts evidenced by the Certificates so surrendered. Instead of any fractional share of Common Stock which would otherwise be deliverable upon settlement of any Purchase Contracts on the applicable Settlement Date or upon Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, the Company shall, through the Agent, make a cash payment to the Holder in respect of such fractional shares in an amount equal to the product of such fraction of a share times the Average Trading Price. The Company shall provide the Agent from time to time with sufficient funds to permit the Agent to make all cash payments required by this Section 5.10 on or prior to the applicable Settlement date.


ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES

    Section 6.1.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Purchase Common Stock.  The Holder of any Unit shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional to purchase Common Stock pursuant to the Purchase Contract constituting a part of such Unit and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such right to purchase Common Stock, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

    Section 6.2.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.  If any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Agreement and such proceeding has been discontinued or

36


abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company and such Holder shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

    Section 6.3.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.  Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificates in the last paragraph of Section 3.10, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Holders 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 6.4.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.  No delay or omission of any Holder to exercise any right or remedy upon a default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such right. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by such Holders.

    Section 6.5.  Undertaking for Costs.  All parties to this Agreement agree, and each Holder of a Unit, by its acceptance of such Unit 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 Agreement, or in any suit against the Agent for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Agent, 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 and expenses, 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; provided, that the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Agent, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% of the Outstanding Units, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of distributions on any Preferred Securities on or after the respective Payment Date therefor in respect of any Unit held by such Holder, or for enforcement of the right to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Purchase Contract constituting part of any Unit held by such Holder.

    Section 6.6.  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 Agreement; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.


ARTICLE VII
THE AGENT

    Section 7.1.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities.  (a)(1) The Agent undertakes to perform, with respect to the Units and Separate Preferred Securities, such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Agreement and the Pledge Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Agreement against the Agent; and

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    (b) No provision of this Agreement shall be construed to relieve the Agent from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, its own bad faith, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

    (c) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Agreement relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Agent shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

    (d) The Agent is authorized to execute and deliver the Pledge Agreement in its capacity as Agent.

    Section 7.2.  Notice of Default.  Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default by the Company hereunder of which a Responsible Officer of the Agent has actual knowledge, the Agent shall transmit by mail to the Company and the Holders of Units, as their names and addresses appear in the Register, notice of such default hereunder, unless such default shall have been cured or waived.

    Section 7.3.  Certain Rights of Agent.  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1:

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    Section 7.4.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Units.  The recitals contained herein and in the Certificates shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Agent assumes no responsibility for their accuracy. The Agent makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of either this Agreement or of the Units, or of the Pledge Agreement or the Pledge. The Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the proceeds in respect of the Purchase Contracts.

    Section 7.5.  May Hold Units.  Any Registrar or any other agent of the Company, or the Agent and its Affiliates, in their individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Units and may otherwise deal with the Company, the Collateral Agent or any other Person with the same rights it would have if it were not Registrar or such other agent, or the Agent.

    Section 7.6.  Money Held in Custody.  Money held by the Agent in custody hereunder need not be segregated from the Agent's other funds except to the extent required by law or provided herein. The Agent shall be under no obligation to invest or pay interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

    Section 7.7.  Compensation and Reimbursement.  The Company agrees:

    The provisions of this Section 7.7 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

    Section 7.8.  Corporate Agent Required; Eligibility.  There shall at all times be an Agent hereunder which shall 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 exercise corporate trust powers, having (or being a member of a bank holding company having) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority and having a Corporate Trust Office in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if

39


there be such a corporation, qualified and eligible under this Article and willing to act on reasonable terms. If such corporation 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 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 Agent 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 7.9.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.  (a) No resignation or removal of the Agent and no appointment of a successor Agent pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Agent in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 7.10.

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    Section 7.10.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.  (a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Agent, every such successor Agent so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Agent an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Agent shall become effective and such successor Agent, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, agencies and duties of the retiring Agent; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Agent, such retiring Agent shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Agent all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Agent and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Agent all property and money held by such retiring Agent hereunder.

    Section 7.11.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.  Any corporation into which the 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 the Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Agent, shall be the successor of the Agent 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 Certificates shall have been authenticated and executed on behalf of the Holders, but not delivered, by the Agent then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such Agent shall adopt such authentication and execution and deliver the Certificates so authenticated and executed with the same effect as if such successor Agent had itself authenticated and executed such Units.

    Section 7.12.  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.  (a) The Agent shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders received by the Agent in its capacity as Registrar.

    Section 7.13.  No Obligations of Agent.  Except to the extent otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Agent assumes no obligation and shall not be subject to any liability under this Agreement, the Pledge Agreement or any Purchase Contract in respect of the obligations of the Holder of any Unit thereunder. The Company agrees, and each Holder of a Certificate, by such Holder's acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed, that the Agent's execution of the Certificates on behalf of the Holders shall be solely as agent and attorney-in-fact for the Holders, and that the Agent shall have no obligation to perform such Purchase Contracts on behalf of the Holders, except to the extent expressly provided in Article Five.

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    Section 7.14.  Tax Compliance.  (a) The Agent, on its own behalf and on behalf of the Company, will comply with all applicable certification, information reporting and withholding (including "backup" withholding) requirements imposed by applicable tax laws, regulations or administrative practice with respect to (i) any payments made with respect to the Units or (ii) the issuance, delivery, holding, transfer, redemption or exercise of rights under the Units. Such compliance shall include, without limitation, the timely filing of required returns (such returns to be prepared by the Company) and the timely payment of all amounts required to be withheld to the appropriate taxing authority or its designated agent, such filing and payment to be at the specific written direction of the Company.


ARTICLE VIII
SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS

    Section 8.1.  Supplemental Agreements Without Consent of Holders.  Without the consent of any Holders, the Company and the Agent, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more agreements supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Agent, for any of the following purposes:

    Section 8.2.  Supplemental Agreements with Consent of Holders.  With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding Purchase Contracts voting together as one class, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Agent, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Agent may enter into an agreement or agreements supplemental hereto for the purpose of modifying in any manner the terms of the Purchase Contracts, or the provisions of this Agreement or the rights of the Holders in respect of the Units; provided, that, except as contemplated herein, no such supplemental agreement shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

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    It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental agreement, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

    Section 8.3.  Execution of Supplemental Agreements.  In executing, or accepting the additional agencies created by, any supplemental agreement permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the agencies created by this Agreement, the Agent shall be provided and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer's Certificate stating that the execution of such supplemental agreement is authorized or permitted by this Agreement. The Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental agreement which affects the Agent's own rights, duties or immunities under this Agreement or otherwise.

    Section 8.4.  Effect of Supplemental Agreements.  Upon the execution of any supplemental agreement under this Article, this Agreement shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental agreement shall form a part of this Agreement for all purposes; and every Holder of Certificates theretofore or thereafter authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

    Section 8.5.  Reference to Supplemental Agreements.  Certificates authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered after the execution of any supplemental agreement pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Agent, bear a notation in form approved by the Agent as to any matter provided for in such supplemental agreement. If the Company shall so determine, new Certificates so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Agent and the Company, to any such supplemental agreement may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered by the Agent in exchange for Outstanding Certificates.


ARTICLE IX
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

    Section 9.1.  Covenant Not to Merge, Consolidate, Sell or Convey Property Except Under Certain Conditions.   The Company covenants that it will not (a) merge or consolidate with any other Person or (b) sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person or group of affiliated Persons in one transaction or a series of related transactions other than, with respect to clause (b), a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, unless (i) either the

43


Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor (if other than the Company) shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof or the District of Columbia and such corporation shall expressly assume all the obligations of the Company under the Purchase Contracts, the Senior Debentures, the Guarantee, this Agreement, the Remarketing Agreement, and the Pledge Agreement by one or more supplemental agreements in form reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and the Collateral Agent, executed and delivered to the Agent and the Collateral Agent by such corporation, and (ii) the Company or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance, be in default in the performance of any covenant or condition hereunder, under any of the Units or under the Pledge Agreement.

    Section 9.2.  Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation.  In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance and upon any such assumption by a successor corporation in accordance with Section 9.1, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named herein as the Company. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of the Company, any or all of the Certificates evidencing Units issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Agent; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Agreement prescribed, the Agent shall authenticate and execute on behalf of the Holders and deliver any Certificates which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Agent for authentication and execution, and any Certificate evidencing Units which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Agent for that purpose. All the Certificates so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Agreement as the Certificates theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement as though all of such Certificates had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

    In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance such change in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Certificates evidencing Units thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

    Section 9.3.  Opinion of Counsel Given to Agent.  The Agent, subject to Sections 7.1 and 7.3, shall receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance, and any such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the consummation of any such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance have been met.


ARTICLE X
COVENANTS

    Section 10.1.  Performance Under Purchase Contracts.  The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Units that it will duly and punctually perform its obligations under the Purchase Contracts in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contracts and this Agreement.

    Section 10.2.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.  The Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York an office or agency where Certificates may be presented or surrendered for acquisition of shares of Common Stock upon settlement of the Purchase Contracts on any Settlement Date and for transfer of Collateral upon occurrence of a Termination Event, where Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, for a Collateral Substitution or reestablishment of Normal Units and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Units and this Agreement may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the

44


Agent of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Agent with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office, and the Company hereby appoints the Agent as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

    The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where Certificates may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Agent of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency. The Company hereby designates as the place of payment for the Units the Corporate Trust Office and appoints the Agent at its Corporate Trust Office as paying agent in such city.

    Section 10.3.  Company to Reserve Common Stock.  The Company shall at all times prior to the Stock Purchase Date reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock the full number of shares of Common Stock issuable against tender of payment in respect of all Purchase Contracts constituting a part of the Units evidenced by Outstanding Certificates.

    Section 10.4.  Covenants as to Common Stock.  The Company covenants that all shares of Common Stock which may be issued against tender of payment in respect of any Purchase Contract constituting a part of the Outstanding Units will, upon issuance, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

    Section 10.5.  Statements of Officer of the Company as to Default.  The Company will deliver to the Agent, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officer's Certificate (one of the signers of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company), stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (a "Default"), and if the Company shall be in default (without regard to periods of grace or notice requirements), specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which such Officer may have knowledge.


ARTICLE XI
TRUST INDENTURE ACT

    Section 11.1.  Trust Indenture Act; Application.  (a) This Agreement is subject to the provisions of the TIA that are required or deemed to be part of this Agreement and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions; and

    Section 11.2.  Lists of Holders of Securities.  (a) The Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agent (i) quarterly, not later than the record date for any Payment Date in each year, commencing March 15, 2002, a list, in such form as the Agent may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders ("List of Holders") as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the delivery thereof, and (ii) at such other times as the Agent may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a List of Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided that, the Company shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of

45


Holders given to the Agent by the Company. The Agent may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

    Section 11.3.  Reports by the Agent.  (a) The Agent shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Agent and its actions under this Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Agent shall, within sixty days after each October 15 following the date of this Agreement deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such October 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

    Section 11.4.  Periodic Reports to Agent.  The Company shall provide to the Agent such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the TIA in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the TIA.

    Section 11.5.  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.  The Company shall provide to the Agent such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent provided for in this Agreement as and to the extent required by Section 314(c) of the TIA. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the TIA may be given in the form of an Officer's Certificate. Any opinion required to be given pursuant to Section 314(c)(2) of the TIA may be given in the form of an Opinion of Counsel.

    Section 11.6.  Defaults; Waiver.  The Holders of a majority of the Outstanding Units voting together as one class may, by vote, on behalf of all of the Holders, waive any past Default and its consequences, except a default

    Section 11.7.  Agent's Knowledge of Defaults.  The Agent shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default unless a Responsible Officer charged with the administration of this Agreement shall have obtained written notice of such Default.

    Section 11.8.  Direction of Agent.  Section 316(a)(1)(A) of the TIA is hereby expressly excluded from this Agreement, as permitted by the TIA.


[* * * SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW * * *]

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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


 

 

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 
       
        Name:    
           
        Title:    
           
    BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
  as Purchase Contract

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       


EXHIBIT A

    THIS CERTIFICATE IS A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A CERTIFICATE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

    Unless this Certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

No.                         

CUSIP No.                         

Number of Normal Units                         


Form of Face of Normal Units Certificate

    This Normal Units Certificate certifies that Cede & Co. is the registered Holder of the number of Normal Units set forth above. Each Normal Unit represents (i) either (a) beneficial ownership by the Holder of one 7.50% Preferred Security (the "Preferred Security") of Boise Cascade Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Trust"), having a stated liquidation amount of $50, subject to the Pledge of such Preferred Security by such Holder pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, or (b) if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred or the Preferred Security has been remarketed by the Remarketing Agent (or if the Holder has elected not to have the Preferred Security remarketed by delivering the appropriate Treasury Consideration specified by the Remarketing Agent), the appropriate Treasury Consideration, subject to the Pledge of such Treasury Consideration by such Holder pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and (ii) the rights and obligations of the Holder under one Purchase Contract with Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). All capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement have the meaning set forth therein.

    Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, the Preferred Security or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, constituting part of each Normal Unit evidenced hereby has been pledged to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, to secure the obligations of the Holder under the Purchase Contract comprising a part of such Normal Unit.

    The Pledge Agreement provides that all payments in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration received by the Collateral Agent shall be paid by the Collateral Agent by wire transfer in same day funds (i) in the case of (a) quarterly cash distributions on Normal Units which include Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration and (b) any payments of the Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, that have been released from the Pledge pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, to the Agent to the account designated by the Agent, no later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Business Day such payment is received by the Collateral Agent (provided that in the event such payment is received by the Collateral Agent on a day that is not a Business Day or after 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on a Business Day, then such

A–1


payment shall be made no later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the next succeeding Business Day) and (ii) in the case of payments in respect of any Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, to be paid upon settlement of such Holder's obligations to purchase Common Stock under the Purchase Contract, to the Company on the Stock Purchase Date (as defined herein) in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement, in full satisfaction of the respective obligations of the Holders of the Normal Units of which such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, are a part under the Purchase Contracts forming a part of such Normal Units. Quarterly distributions on Normal Units which include Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, which are payable quarterly in arrears on March 16, June 16, September 16, and December 16 each year, commencing March 16, 2002 (a "Payment Date"), shall, subject to receipt thereof by the Agent from the Collateral Agent, be paid to the Person in whose name this Normal Units Certificate (or a Predecessor Normal Units Certificate) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such Payment Date.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby obligates the Holder of this Normal Units Certificate to purchase, and the Company to sell, on December 16, 2004 (the "Stock Purchase Date"), at a price equal to $50 (the "Stated Amount"), a number of shares of common stock, $2.50 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the Company, equal to the Settlement Rate, unless on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date there shall have occurred a Termination Event or an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement with respect to the Normal Units of which such Purchase Contract is a part, all as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement and more fully described on the reverse hereof. The Purchase Price (as defined herein) for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby, if not paid earlier, shall be paid on the Stock Purchase Date by application of payments received in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, pledged to secure the obligations of the Holder under such Purchase Contract.

    Distributions on the Preferred Securities or payments on the appropriate Treasury Consideration (as specified in clause (i) of the definition of the Remarketing Value), as the case may be, will be payable at the office of the Agent in The City of New York or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears on the Normal Units Register or by wire transfer to an account specified by the Company.

    Reference is hereby made to the further provisions set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

    Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Agent by manual signature, this Normal Units Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Pledge Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

 

 

HOLDER SPECIFIED ABOVE (as to
obligations of such Holder under the Purchase
Contracts evidenced hereby)

 

 

By:

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
not individually but solely as
Attorney-in-Fact of such Holder

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

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AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

    This is one of the Normal Units Certificates referred to in the within-mentioned Purchase Contract Agreement.

Dated:                                      

  By: BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Purchase Contract Agent

 

By:

 
   
Authorized Signatory

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(Form of Reverse of Normal Units Certificate)

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby is governed by a Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (as may be supplemented from time to time, the "Purchase Contract Agreement"), between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent (including its successors thereunder, herein called the "Agent"), to which Purchase Contract Agreement and supplemental agreements thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Agent, the Company, and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Normal Units Certificates are, and are to be, executed and delivered.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby obligates the Holder of this Normal Units Certificate to purchase, and the Company to sell, on the Stock Purchase Date at a price equal to $50 (the "Purchase Price"), a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the Settlement Rate, unless, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, there shall have occurred a Termination Event or an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement with respect to the Unit of which such Purchase Contract is a part. The "Settlement Rate" is equal to (a) if the Average Trading Price (as defined below) is greater than $38.88 (the "Threshold Appreciation Price"), 1.2860 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, (b) if the Average Trading Price is less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but is greater than $31.87, the number of shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract equal to the Stated Amount divided by the Average Trading Price and (c) if the Average Trading Price is less than $31.87, 1.5689 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon settlement of Purchase Contracts, as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    The "Average Trading Price" means the average of the Closing Price per share of Common Stock on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days ending on the third Trading Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date.

    The "Closing Price" of the Common Stock on any date of determination means the closing sale price (or, if no closing price is reported, the last reported sale price) of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on such date or, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on the NYSE on any such date, as reported in the composite transactions for the principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is so listed, or if the Common Stock is not so listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if the Common Stock is not so reported, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization, or, if such bid price is not available, the market value of the Common Stock on such date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company.

    A "Trading Day" means a day on which the Common Stock (a) is not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business and (b) has traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Common Stock.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby may be settled prior to the Stock Purchase Date through Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Holder of this Normal Units Certificate shall pay the Purchase Price for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby (i) by effecting an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, (ii) by application of payments received in respect of the Pledged Treasury Consideration acquired from the proceeds of a remarketing of the related Pledged Preferred Securities underlying the

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Normal Units represented by this Normal Units Certificate or (iii) if the Holder has elected not to participate in the remarketing, by application of payments received in respect of the Pledged Treasury Consideration deposited by such Holder in respect of such Purchase Contract. If, as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement, upon the occurrence of a Failed Remarketing the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, exercises its rights as a secured creditor with respect to the Pledged Preferred Securities related to this Normal Units Certificate, any accumulated and unpaid distributions on such Pledged Preferred Securities will become payable by the Company to the Holder of this Normal Units Certificate in the manner provided for in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock in respect of a Purchase Contract or deliver any certificates therefor to the Holder unless it shall have received payment in full of the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased thereunder in the manner herein set forth.

    Under the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Agent will be entitled to exercise the voting and any other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Preferred Securities. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or upon the solicitation of consents, waivers or proxies of holders of Preferred Securities, the Agent shall, as soon as practicable thereafter, mail to the Holders of Normal Units a notice (a) containing such information as is contained in the notice or solicitation, (b) stating that each such Holder on the record date set by the Agent therefor (which, to the extent possible, shall be the same date as the record date for determining the holders of Preferred Securities entitled to vote) shall be entitled to instruct the Agent as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the Pledged Preferred Securities constituting a part of such Holder's Normal Units and (c) stating the manner in which such instructions may be given. Upon the written request of the Holders of Normal Units on such record date, the Agent shall endeavor insofar as practicable to vote or cause to be voted, in accordance with the instructions set forth in such requests, the maximum number of Pledged Preferred Securities as to which any particular voting instructions are received. In the absence of specific instructions from the Holder of a Normal Unit, the Agent shall abstain from voting the Pledged Preferred Security evidenced by such Normal Unit.

    Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption prior to the Stock Purchase Date, the Redemption Price payable on the Redemption Date with respect to the Preferred Securities shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent in exchange for the Preferred Securities. Thereafter, pursuant to the terms of the Pledge Agreement, the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Company will apply an amount equal to the Redemption Amount of such Redemption Price to purchase, the Treasury Consideration and promptly remit the remaining portion of such Redemption Price to the Agent for payment to the Holders of such Normal Units.

    Following the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption prior to the Stock Purchase Date, the Holders of Normal Units and the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests rights and obligations with respect to the Treasury Consideration as the Holder of Normal Units and the Collateral Agent had in respect of the Preferred Securities, as the case may be, subject to the Pledge thereof as provided in Articles II, III, IV, V and VI, of the Pledge Agreement and any reference herein to the Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be reference to such Treasury Consideration.

    Upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, a principal amount of the Senior Debentures constituting the assets of the Trust and underlying the Pledged Preferred Securities equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of the Pledged Preferred Securities shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent in exchange for Pledged Preferred Securities. Thereafter, the Senior Debentures shall be held by the Collateral Agent to secure the obligations of each Holder of Normal Units to purchase shares of Common Stock under the Purchase Contracts constituting a part of such Normal Units. Following a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, the Holders and the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Senior Debentures as the Holders and the

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Collateral Agent had in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities, and any reference in the Purchase Contract Agreement or Pledge Agreement to the Preferred Securities or Pledged Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be a reference to the Senior Debentures.

    The Normal Units Certificates are issuable only in registered form and only in denominations of a single Normal Unit and any integral multiple thereof. The transfer of any Normal Units Certificate will be registered and Normal Units Certificates may be exchanged as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement. The Normal Units Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents permitted by the Purchase Contract Agreement. No service charge shall be required for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Holder of a Normal Unit may substitute for the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration securing its obligations under the related Purchase Contract Treasury Securities in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement. From and after such Collateral Substitution, the Unit for which such Pledged Treasury Securities secures the Holder's obligation under the Purchase Contract shall be referred to as a "Stripped Unit." A Holder that elects to substitute a Treasury Security for Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, thereby creating Stripped Units, shall be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection therewith. Except as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement, for so long as the Purchase Contract underlying a Normal Unit remains in effect, such Normal Unit shall not be separable into its constituent parts, and the rights and obligations of the Holder of such Normal Units in respect of the Pledged Preferred Security or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, and Purchase Contract constituting such Normal Unit may be transferred and exchanged only as a Normal Unit.

    A Holder of Stripped Units may reestablish Normal Units by delivering to the Collateral Agent Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration in exchange for the release of the Pledged Treasury Securities in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement.

    The Purchase Contracts and all obligations and rights of the Company and the Holders thereunder shall immediately and automatically terminate, without the necessity of any notice or action by any Holder, the Agent or the Company, if, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, a Termination Event shall have occurred. Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Company shall promptly but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter give written notice to the Agent, the Collateral Agent and to the Holders, at their addresses as they appear in the Normal Units Register. Upon and after the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Collateral Agent shall release the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, from the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of the Pledge Agreement.

    Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement, at the option of the Holder thereof, Purchase Contracts underlying Securities having an aggregate Stated Amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof may be settled early ("Early Settlement") as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement; provided, however, that if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred and the Treasury Consideration has become a component of the Normal Units, Holders may early settle Normal Units only in integral multiples of 20 Normal Units. In order to exercise the right to effect Early Settlement with respect to any Purchase Contracts evidenced by this Normal Unit Certificate, the Holder of this Normal Unit Certificate shall deliver this Normal Unit Certificate to the Agent at the Corporate Trust Office duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or in blank with the form of Election to Settle Early set forth below duly completed and accompanied by payment in the form of immediately available funds payable to the order of the Company in an amount (the "Early Settlement Amount") equal to the product of (A) the Stated Amount times (B) the number of Purchase Contracts with respect to which the Holder has elected to effect Early Settlement. Upon

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Early Settlement of Purchase Contracts by a Holder of the related Units, the Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration shall be released from the Pledge as provided in the Pledge Agreement and the Holder shall be entitled to receive a number of shares of Common Stock on account of each Purchase Contract forming part of a Normal Unit as to which Early Settlement is effected equal to the Early Settlement Rate. The Early Settlement Rate shall initially be equal to shares of Common Stock and shall be adjusted in the same manner and at the same time as the Settlement Rate is adjusted as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    Upon registration of transfer of this Normal Units Certificate, the transferee shall be bound (without the necessity of any other action on the part of such transferee, except as may be required by the Agent pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement), under the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Purchase Contracts evidenced hereby and the transferor shall be released from the obligations under the Purchase Contracts evidenced by this Normal Units Certificate. The Company covenants and agrees, and the Holder, by its acceptance hereof, likewise covenants and agrees, to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph.

    The Holder of this Normal Units Certificate, by its acceptance hereof, authorizes the Agent to enter into and perform the related Purchase Contracts forming part of the Normal Units evidenced hereby on his behalf as his attorney-in-fact, expressly withholds any consent to the assumption (i.e., affirmance) of the Purchase Contracts by the Company or its trustee in the event that the Company becomes the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, covenants and agrees to perform such Holder's obligations under such Purchase Contracts, consents to the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement, authorizes the Agent to enter into and perform the Pledge Agreement on such Holder's behalf as attorney-in-fact, and consents to the Pledge of the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, underlying this Normal Units Certificate pursuant to the Pledge Agreement. The Holder further covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement, but subject to the terms thereof, payments in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, to be paid upon settlement of such Holder's obligations to purchase Common Stock under the Purchase Contract, shall be paid on the Stock Purchase Date by the Collateral Agent to the Company in satisfaction of such Holder's obligations under such Purchase Contract and such Holder shall acquire no right, title or interest in such payments.

    Each Holder of any Unit, and each Beneficial Owner thereof, by its acceptance thereof or of its interest therein, further agrees to treat (i) itself as the owner of the related Preferred Securities, Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) the Senior Debentures as indebtedness of the Company, in each case, for United States federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes.

    Subject to certain exceptions, the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement may be amended with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the Purchase Contracts.

    The Purchase Contracts shall for all purposes be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

    The Company, the Agent and its Affiliates and any agent of the Company or the Agent may treat the Person in whose name this Normal Units Certificate is registered as the owner of the Normal Units evidenced hereby for the purpose of receiving payments of distributions payable quarterly on the Preferred Securities or the Treasury Portfolio, as the case may be, performance of the Purchase Contracts and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payments in respect thereof be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, and neither the Company, the Agent, such Affiliates nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

    The Purchase Contracts shall not, prior to the settlement thereof, entitle the Holder to any of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock.

    A copy of the Purchase Contract Agreement is available for inspection at the offices of the Agent.

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ABBREVIATIONS

    The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM—   as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

Custodian

(cust)                                                  (minor)

 

 

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

(State)

TEN ENT—

 

as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN—

 

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

    FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto



(Please insert Social Security or Taxpayer I.D. or other Identifying Number of Assignee)



(Please Print or Type Name and Address Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)
within Normal Unit Certificates and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing


attorney to transfer said Normal Unit Certificates on the books of Boise Cascade Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:        
   
 
Signature

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Normal Unit Certificates in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signature Guarantee:    
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

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SETTLEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

    The undersigned Holder directs that a certificate for shares of Common Stock deliverable upon settlement on or after the Stock Purchase Date of the Purchase Contracts underlying the number of Normal Units evidenced by this Normal Units Certificate be registered in the name of, and delivered, together with a check in payment for any fractional share, to the undersigned at the address indicated below unless a different name and address have been indicated below. If shares are to be registered in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay any transfer tax payable incident thereto.

Dated:        
 
     
Signature:     Signature:  
 
   
  Signature Guarantee:   Signature Guarantee:
 
   
If assigned to anothrer person)   If assigned to anothrer person)

    Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

If shares are to be registered in the name of and delivered to a Person other than the Holder, please (i) print such Person's name and address and (ii) provide a guarantee of your signature.   REGISTERED HOLDER

Please print name and address of Registered Holder:


Name
 
Name



 





 




Address

 


Address



 




Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any

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ELECTION TO SETTLE EARLY

    The undersigned Holder of this Normal Units Certificate hereby irrevocably exercises the option to effect Early Settlement in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement with respect to the Purchase Contracts underlying the number of Normal Units evidenced by this Normal Units Certificate specified below. The option to effect Early Settlement may be exercised only with respect to Purchase Contracts underlying Normal Units with an aggregate Stated Amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The undersigned Holder directs that a certificate for shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such Early Settlement be registered in the name of, and delivered, together with a check in payment for any fractional share and any Normal Units Certificate representing any Normal Units evidenced hereby as to which Early Settlement of the related Purchase Contracts is not effected, to the undersigned at the address indicated below unless a different name and address have been indicated below. Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, deliverable upon such Early Settlement will be transferred in accordance with the transfer instructions set forth below. If shares are to be registered in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay any transfer tax payable incident thereto.

Dated:      
 
 
Signature
Signature of Guarantee:      
 
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

    Number of Securities evidenced hereby as to which Early Settlement of the related Purchase Contracts is being elected:

If shares of Common Stock or Normal Units Certificates are to be registered in the name of and delivered to and Pledged Preferred Securities, or the Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, are to be transferred to a Person other than the Holder, please print such Person's name and address:   REGISTERED HOLDER

Please print name and address of Registered Holder:


Name
 
Name


Address

 


Address



 





 




Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any

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Transfer Instructions for Pledged Preferred Securities, or the Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, transferable upon Early Settlement or a Termination Event:




[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL CERTIFICATES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL CERTIFICATE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Certificate have been made:

Date
  Amount of Decrease in
Principal Amount of the
Global Certificate

  Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of the
Global Certificate

  Principal Amount of this
Global Certificate following
such decrease or increase

  Signature of Authorized
Signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian




 



 



 



 



 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

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EXHIBIT B

    THIS CERTIFICATE IS A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT (AS HEREINAFTER DEFINED) AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A CERTIFICATE REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS CERTIFICATE IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH CLEARING AGENCY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT.

    Unless this Certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the Company or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co., or such other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.

No.                         

CUSIP No.                         

Number of Stripped Units                         


Form of Face of Stripped Units Certificate

    This Stripped Units Certificate certifies that Cede & Co. is the registered Holder of the number of Stripped Units set forth above. Each Stripped Unit represents (i) a 1/20 undivided beneficial ownership interest in a Treasury Security, subject to the Pledge of such interest in such Treasury Security by such Holder pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, and (ii) the rights and obligations of the Holder under one Purchase Contract with Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"). All capitalized terms used herein which are defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement have the meaning set forth therein.

    Pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, the Treasury Security constituting part of each Stripped Unit evidenced hereby has been pledged to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, to secure the obligations of the Holder under the Purchase Contract comprising a part of such Stripped Unit.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby obligates the Holder of this Stripped Units Certificate to purchase, and the Company to sell, on December 16, 2004 (the "Stock Purchase Date"), at a price equal to $50 (the "Stated Amount"), a number of shares of common stock, $2.50 par value per share ("Common Stock"), of the Company, equal to the Settlement Rate, unless on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date there shall have occurred a Termination Event or an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement with respect to the Stripped Units of which such Purchase Contract is a part, all as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement and more fully described on the reverse hereof. The Purchase Price (as defined herein) for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby, if not paid earlier, shall be paid on the Stock Purchase Date by application of payments received in respect of the Pledged Treasury Securities pledged to secure the obligations under such Purchase Contract in accordance with the terms of the Pledge Agreement.

    Reference is hereby made to the further provisions set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

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    Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Agent by manual signature, this Stripped Units Certificate shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Pledge Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

 

 

HOLDER SPECIFIED ABOVE (as to
obligations of such Holder under the Purchase
Contracts evidenced hereby)

 

 

By:

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
not individually but solely as
Attorney-in-Fact of such Holder

 

 

By:

 

 
     
      Name:  
       
      Title:  
       

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AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

    This is one of the Stripped Units referred to in the within-mentioned Purchase Contract Agreement.

Dated:

  By: BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Purchase Contract Agent

 

By:

 
   
Authorized Signatory

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(Reverse of Stripped Units Certificate)

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby is governed by a Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (as may be supplemented from time to time, the "Purchase Contract Agreement"), between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent (including its successors thereunder, herein called the "Agent"), to which the Purchase Contract Agreement and supplemental agreements thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Agent, the Company and the Holders and of the terms upon which the Stripped Units Certificates are, and are to be, executed and delivered.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby obligates the Holder of this Stripped Units Certificate to purchase, and the Company to sell, on the Stock Purchase Date at a price equal to the Stated Amount (the "Purchase Price"), a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the Settlement Rate, unless, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, there shall have occurred a Termination Event or an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement with respect to the Unit of which such Purchase Contract is a part. The "Settlement Rate" is equal to (a) if the Average Trading Price (as defined below) is greater than $38.88 (the "Threshold Appreciation Price"), 1.2860 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, (b) if the Average Trading Price is less than the Threshold Appreciation Price but is greater than $31.87, the number of shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract equal to the Stated Amount divided by the Average Trading Price and (c) if the Average Trading Price is less than $31.87, 1.5689 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract, in each case subject to adjustment as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement. No fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon settlement of Purchase Contracts, as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    The "Average Trading Price" means the average of the Closing Prices per share of Common Stock on each of the 20 consecutive Trading Days ending on the third Trading Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date.

    The "Closing Price" of the Common Stock on any date of determination means the closing sale price (or, if no closing price is reported, the last reported sale price) of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on such date or, if the Common Stock is not listed for trading on the NYSE on any such date, as reported in the composite transactions for the principal United States securities exchange on which the Common Stock is so listed, or if the Common Stock is not so listed on a United States national or regional securities exchange, as reported by The Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if the Common Stock is not so reported, the last quoted bid price for the Common Stock in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization, or, if such bid price is not available, the market value of the Common Stock on such date as determined by a nationally recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by the Company.

    A "Trading Day" means a day on which the Common Stock (a) is not suspended from trading on any national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market at the close of business and (b) has traded at least once on the national or regional securities exchange or association or over-the-counter market that is the primary market for the trading of the Common Stock.

    Each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby may be settled prior to the Stock Purchase Date through Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Holder of this Stripped Units Certificate shall pay the Purchase Price for the shares of Common Stock purchased pursuant to each Purchase Contract evidenced hereby (i) by effecting an Early Settlement or Merger Early

B–4


Settlement or (ii) by application of payments received in respect of the Pledged Treasury Securities underlying the Stripped Units represented by this Stripped Units Certificate.

    The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock in respect of a Purchase Contract or deliver any certificates therefor to the Holder unless it shall have received payment in full of the aggregate Purchase Price for the shares of Common Stock to be purchased thereunder in the manner herein set forth.

    The Stripped Units Certificates are issuable only in registered form and only in denominations of a single Stripped Unit and any integral multiple thereof. The transfer of any Stripped Units Certificate will be registered and Stripped Units Certificates may be exchanged as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement. The Stripped Units Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents permitted by the Purchase Contract Agreement. No service charge shall be required for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company and the Agent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith. The Holder of a Stripped Unit may substitute for the Pledged Treasury Securities securing its obligations under the related Purchase Contract Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement. From and after such substitution, the Unit for which such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration secures the Holder's obligation under the Purchase Contract shall be referred to as a "Normal Unit." A Holder that elects to substitute Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, for Pledged Treasury Securities, thereby reestablishing Normal Units, shall be responsible for any fees or expenses payable in connection therewith. Except as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement, for so long as the Purchase Contract underlying a Stripped Unit remains in effect, such Stripped Unit shall not be separable into its constituent parts, and the rights and obligations of the Holder of such Stripped Unit in respect of the Pledged Treasury Security and the Purchase Contract constituting such Stripped Unit may be transferred and exchanged only as a Stripped Unit.

    The Purchase Contracts and all obligations and rights of the Company and the Holders thereunder, shall immediately and automatically terminate, without the necessity of any notice or action by any Holder, the Agent or the Company, if, on or prior to the Stock Purchase Date, a Termination Event shall have occurred. Upon the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Company shall promptly but in no event later than two Business Days thereafter give written notice to the Agent, the Collateral Agent and to the Holders, at their addresses as they appear in the Stripped Units Register. Upon and after the occurrence of a Termination Event, the Collateral Agent shall release the Pledged Treasury Securities from the Pledge in accordance with the provisions of the Pledge Agreement.

    Subject to and upon compliance with the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement, at the option of the Holder thereof, Purchase Contracts underlying Securities having an aggregate Stated Amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof may be settled early ("Early Settlement") as provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement. In order to exercise the right to effect Early Settlement with respect to any Purchase Contracts evidenced by this Stripped Unit Certificate, the Holder of this Stripped Unit Certificate shall deliver this Stripped Unit Certificate to the Agent at the Corporate Trust Office duly endorsed for transfer to the Company or in blank with the form of Election to Settle Early set forth below duly completed and accompanied by payment in the form of immediately available funds payable to the order of the Company in an amount (the "Early Settlement Amount") equal to the product of (A) the Stated Amount times (B) the number of Purchase Contracts with respect to which the Holder has elected to effect Early Settlement. Upon Early Settlement of Purchase Contracts by a Holder of the related Units, the Pledged Treasury Consideration shall be released from the Pledge as provided in the Pledge Agreement and the Holder shall be entitled to receive, a number of shares of common Stock on account of each Purchase Contract forming part of a Stripped Unit as

B–5


to which Early Settlement is effected equal to 1.2860 shares of Common Stock per Purchase Contract (the "Early Settlement Rate").

    Upon registration of transfer of this Stripped Units Certificate, the transferee shall be bound (without the necessity of any other action on the part of such transferee, except as may be required by the Agent pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement), under the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Purchase Contracts evidenced hereby and the transferor shall be released from the obligations under the Purchase Contracts evidenced by this Stripped Units Certificate. The Company covenants and agrees, and the Holder, by his acceptance hereof, likewise covenants and agrees, to be bound by the provisions of this paragraph.

    The Holder of this Stripped Units Certificate, by his acceptance hereof, authorizes the Agent to enter into and perform the related Purchase Contracts forming part of the Stripped Units evidenced hereby on his behalf as its attorney-in-fact, expressly withholds any consent to the assumption (i.e., affirmance) of the Purchase Contracts by the Company or its trustee in the event that the Company becomes the subject of a case under the Bankruptcy Code, agrees to be bound by the terms and provisions thereof, covenants and agrees to perform such Holder's obligations under such Purchase Contracts, consents to the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement, authorizes the Agent to enter into and perform the Pledge Agreement on such Holder's behalf as attorney-in-fact, and consents to the Pledge of the Treasury Securities underlying this Stripped Units Certificate pursuant to the Pledge Agreement. The Holder further covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement, but subject to the terms thereof, payments in respect of the Pledged Treasury Securities, to be paid upon settlement of such Holder's obligations to purchase Common Stock under the Purchase Contract, shall be paid on the Stock Purchase Date by the Collateral Agent to the Company in satisfaction of such Holder's obligations under such Purchase Contract and such Holder shall acquire no right, title or interest in such payments.

    Each Holder of any Unit, and each Beneficial Owner thereof, by its acceptance thereof or of its interest therein, further agrees to treat (i) itself as the owner of the related Preferred Securities, Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities, as the case may be, and (ii) the Senior Debentures as indebtedness of the Company, in each case, for United States federal, state and local income and franchise tax purposes.

    Subject to certain exceptions, the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement may be amended with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the Purchase Contracts.

    The Purchase Contracts shall for all purposes be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.

    The Company, the Agent and its Affiliates and any agent of the Company or the Agent may treat the Person in whose name this Stripped Units Certificate is registered as the owner of the Stripped Units evidenced hereby for the purpose of performance of the Purchase Contracts and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payments in respect thereof be overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, and neither the Company, the Agent, such Affiliate, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

    The Purchase Contracts shall not, prior to the settlement thereof, entitle the Holder to any of the rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock.

    A copy of the Purchase Contract Agreement is available for inspection at the offices of the Agent.

B–6



ABBREVIATIONS

    The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations:

TEN COM—   as tenants in common

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT—

 

Custodian

(cust)                            (minor)

 

 

Under Uniform Gifts to Minors Act

(State)

TEN ENT—

 

as tenants by the entireties

JT TEN—

 

as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

    FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto


(Please insert Social Security or Taxpayer I.D. or other Identifying Number of Assignee)




(Please Print or Type Name and Address Including Postal Zip Code of Assignee)

the within Stripped Unit Certificates and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing


attorney to transfer said Stripped Unit Certificates on the books of Boise Cascade Corporation with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:        
   
 
Signature

 

 

 

 

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as it appears upon the face of the within Stripped Unit Certificates in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.
Signature Guarantee:    
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

B–7



SETTLEMENT INSTRUCTIONS

    The undersigned Holder directs that a certificate for shares of Common Stock deliverable upon settlement on or after the Stock Purchase Date of the Purchase Contracts underlying the number of Stripped Units evidenced by this Stripped Units Certificate be registered in the name of, and delivered, together with a check in payment for any fractional share, to the undersigned at the address indicated below unless a different name and address have been indicated below. If shares are to be registered in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay any transfer tax payable incident thereto.

Dated:        
   
 
Signature

Signature Guarantee:

    Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

If shares are to be registered in the name of and delivered to REGISTERED HOLDER a Person other than the Holder please print such Person's name and address:   REGISTERED HOLDER

Please print name and address of Registered Holder:


Name
 
Name



 





 




Address

 


Address


Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any

B–8


ELECTION TO SETTLE EARLY

    The undersigned Holder of this Stripped Units Certificate hereby irrevocably exercises the option to effect Early Settlement in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement with respect to the Purchase Contracts underlying the number of Stripped Units evidenced by this Stripped Units Certificate specified below. The option to effect Early Settlement may be exercised only with respect to Purchase Contracts underlying Stripped Units with an aggregate Stated Amount equal to $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof. The undersigned Holder directs that a certificate for shares of Common Stock deliverable upon such Early Settlement be registered in the name of, and delivered, together with a check in payment for any fractional share and any Stripped Units Certificate representing any Stripped Units evidenced hereby as to which Early Settlement of the related Purchase Contracts is not effected, to the undersigned at the address indicated below unless a different name and address have been indicated below. Pledged Treasury Securities deliverable upon such Early Settlement will be transferred in accordance with the transfer instructions set forth below. If shares are to be registered in the name of a Person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay any transfer tax payable incident thereto.

Dated:      
 
 
Signature
Signature Guarantee:      
 
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended

    Number of Securities evidenced hereby as to which Early Settlement of the related Purchase Contracts is being elected:

If shares of Common Stock or Stripped Unit Certificates are to be registered in the name of and delivered to and Pledged Treasury Securities are to be transferred to a Person other than the Holder, please print such Person's name and address:   REGISTERED HOLDER

Please print name and address of Registered Holder:


Name
 
Name



 





 




Address

 


Address


Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any

B–9


Transfer Instructions for Pledged Treasury Securities transferable upon Early Settlement or a Termination Event:




[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL CERTIFICATES]

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL CERTIFICATE

The following increases or decreases in this Global Certificate have been made:

Date
  Amount of Decrease in
Principal Amount of the
Global Certificate

  Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of the
Global Certificate

  Principal Amount of this
Global Certificate following
such decrease or increase

  Signature of Authorized
Signatory of Trustee or
Securities Custodian




 



 



 



 



 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

B–10



EXHIBIT C
INSTRUCTION FROM PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT TO
COLLATERAL AGENT

JPMorgan Chase Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Institutional Trust Services

    Re:   Equity Security Units of Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company"), and
Boise Cascade Trust I

    We hereby notify you in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, among the Company, yourselves, as Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent and Securities Intermediary, and ourselves, as Purchase Contract Agent and as attorney-in-fact for the holders of [Normal Units] [Stripped Units] from time to time, that the holder of securities listed below (the "Holder") has elected to substitute [$      aggregate principal amount of Treasury Securities (CUSIP No.       )] [$      stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] in exchange for the related [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be (CUSIP No.       ),] [Pledged Treasury Securities] held by you in accordance with the Pledge Agreement and has delivered to us a notice stating that the Holder has transferred [Treasury Securities] [Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] to you, as Collateral Agent. We hereby instruct you, upon receipt of such [Pledged Treasury Securities] [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be], and upon the payment by such Holder of any applicable fees, to release the [Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] [Treasury Securities] related to such [Normal Units] [Stripped Units] to us in accordance with the Holder's instructions.

Date:  
  By:   BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY
            Name:    
               
            Title:    
               
Signature Guarantee:    
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrant, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature" guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Please print name and address of Registered Holder electing to substitute [Treasury Securities] [Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] for the [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,][Pledged Treasury Securities]:

Name:  
  Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any
         
Address:  
 
         

   
         

   

C–1



EXHIBIT D
INSTRUCTION TO PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT

BNY Western Trust Company
601 Union Street
Suite 1720
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention: Corporate Trust

    Re:   Equity Security Units of Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company"), and
Boise Cascade Trust I

    The undersigned Holder hereby notifies you that it has delivered to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent and Securities Intermediary [$          aggregate principal amount of Treasury Securities] [$          stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] in exchange for the related [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration as the case may be,] [Pledged Treasury Securities] held by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Pledge Agreement, dated December 5, 2001, among you, the Company and the Collateral Agent. The undersigned Holder has paid the Collateral Agent all applicable fees relating to such exchange. The undersigned Holder hereby instructs you to instruct the Collateral Agent to release to you on behalf of the undersigned Holder the [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be,] [Pledged Treasury Securities] related to such [Normal Units] [Stripped Units].

Date:  
  By:  
            Name:    
               
            Title:    
               
Signature Guarantee:    
   

Signatures must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Registrant, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature" guarantee program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

D–1



EXHIBIT E
FORMS OF REMARKETING AGREEMENT

E–1



Boise Cascade Corporation
7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006


[FORM OF REMARKETING AGREEMENT*]

    [DATE]

[NAME OF REMARKETING AGENT]

                                    

                                    

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    [Name of Remarketing Agent], a                                    (the "Remarketing Agent"), is undertaking to remarket 7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006 (the "Debentures"), issued by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company").

    This Remarketing Agreement (this "Agreement") is being entered into pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent (the "Purchase Contract Agent"), dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Purchase Contract Agreement"). The Debentures have been issued by the Company pursuant to Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee") (the "Original Indenture"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1989 (the "First Supplement"), the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Second Supplement"), and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Company, the Original Trustee and BNY Western Trust Company, as series trustee (the "Trustee") (the "Third Supplement," and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplement and the Second Supplement, the "Indenture").

    Each Debenture was issued by the Company to Boise Cascade I (the "Trust") to underlying preferred securities ("Preferred Securities") issued as part of an equity security unit (each, a "Unit") that initially also included a contract (a "Purchase Contract") under which the holder of the related Unit will purchase from the Company on December 26, 2004, a number of shares (the "Issuable Common Stock") of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") equal to the Settlement Rate as set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement. In connection with the liquidation of the Trust, the Debentures were issued to the holders of the Preferred Securities, and the Normal Units include Debentures in lieu of Preferred Securities. In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Debentures constituting a part of the Units have been pledged by the Purchase Contract Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Units, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as collateral agent, custodial agent and securities intermediary (the "Collateral Agent"), pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Collateral Agent to secure the holders' obligation to purchase the Issuable Common Stock under the Purchase Contracts.

    Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Indenture, the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Declaration and the Underwriting Agreement among the Company, the Trust and the several underwriters named therein, dated as of 29, 2001, entered into in connection with the initial public offering of the Units (the "Underwriting Agreement"), as the case may be.


*This form of Remarketing Agreement is to be used if the Preferred Securities have been redeemed in whole.


    The Remarketing (as defined below) of the Debentures is provided for in the Purchase Contract Agreement. As used in this Agreement, "Transaction Documents" shall mean, collectively, the Indenture, the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Declaration, the Pledge Agreement and this Agreement; the term "Remarketed Debentures" means the Debentures subject to the Remarketing as notified to the Remarketing Agent by the Purchase Contract Agent and the Custodial Agent, on or prior to the first Business Day prior to a Remarketing Date; the term "Remarketing Procedures" means the procedures in connection with the Remarketing of the Debentures, as described herein and in the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement; the term "Remarketing" means the remarketing of the Remarketed Debentures pursuant to the Remarketing Procedures; the term "Remarketing Date" means the third Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004; and the term "Instruments" means the Remarketed Debentures, the Purchase Contracts, the Units, the Preferred Securities, the Debentures and the Issuable Common Stock.

    SECTION 1.  Appointment and Obligations of the Remarketing Agent.  

2


    SECTION 2.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company.  The Company represents, warrants and agrees (i) on and as of the date hereof, (ii) on and as of the date the Prospectus or other Remarketing Materials (each as defined in Section 2(a) below) are first distributed

3


in connection with the Remarketing (the "Commencement Date") and (iii) on and as of the Remarketing Date, that:

4


5


6


    SECTION 3.  Fees and Expenses.  The Company covenants and agrees with the Remarketing Agent it will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the costs incident to the preparation, filing and printing of the [Registration Statement,] Prospectus and any Remarketing Materials and any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) the costs of distributing the [Registration Statement,] Prospectus and any Remarketing Materials and any amendments or supplements thereto; (iii) any fees and expenses of qualifying the Remarketed Preferred Securities under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4[(g)] and of preparing, printing and distributing a Blue Sky memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Remarketing Agent); and (iv) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder.

    SECTION 4.  Further Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees to use their reasonable best efforts:

7


and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the Remarketing and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials, as applicable, is delivered, not misleading, or if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus and the Remarketing Materials or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Remarketing Agent and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Remarketing Agent and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Remarketing Agent may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

    SECTION 5.  Conditions to the Remarketing Agent's Obligations.  The obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder are subject to the accuracy, on and as of the date when made, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions. The Remarketing Agent may in its sole discretion waive on its behalf compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder.

8


9


    In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that he expresses no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and the State of Delaware and such counsel may rely as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New York upon the opinion of [                            ] referred to in Section 5(c).

10


    In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that they express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and the State of Delaware and such counsel may rely as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New York upon the opinion of [                            ] referred to in Section 5(c).

11


    All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Remarketing Agent.

    SECTION 6.  Indemnification and Contribution.  

12


13


    SECTION 7.  Resignation and Removal of the Remarketing Agent.  The Remarketing Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder, and the Company may remove the Remarketing Agent, by giving 60 days prior written notice to the Purchase Contract Agent, the Property Trustee and the Indenture Trustee and, in the case of a removal, the removed Remarketing Agent; provided that no such resignation nor any such removal shall become effective until the Company shall have appointed at least one nationally recognized broker-dealer as successor Remarketing Agent and such successor Remarketing Agent shall have entered into a remarketing agreement with the Company in which it shall have agreed to conduct the Remarketing in accordance with the Remarketing Procedures. In any such case, the Company will use its best reasonable efforts to appoint a successor Remarketing Agent and enter into such a remarketing agreement with such person as soon as reasonably practicable. The provisions of Sections 4 and 6 shall survive the resignation or removal of any Remarketing Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

    SECTION 8.  Dealing in the Remarketed Debentures.  The Remarketing Agent, when acting as a Remarketing Agent or in its individual or any other capacity, may, to the extent permitted by law, buy,

14


sell, hold and deal in any of the Remarketed Debentures. The Remarketing Agent may exercise any vote or join in any action which any beneficial owner of Remarketed Debentures may be entitled to exercise or take pursuant to the Indenture or the Indenture with like effect as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder. The Remarketing Agent, in its individual capacity, either as principal or agent, may also engage in or have an interest in any financial or other transaction with the Company, as freely as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder.

    SECTION 9.  Remarketing Agent's Performance; Duty of Care; Supervising Obligations.  The duties and obligations of the Remarketing Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement and the Purchase Contract Agreement. No implied covenants or obligations of or against the Remarketing Agent shall be read into this Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Remarketing Agent, the Remarketing Agent may conclusively rely upon any document furnished to it, which purports to conform to the requirements of this Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement as to the truth of the statements expressed in any of such documents. The Remarketing Agent shall be protected in acting upon any document or communication reasonably believed by it to have been signed, presented or made by the proper party or parties. The Remarketing Agent, acting under this Agreement, shall incur no liability to the Company or to any holder of Remarketed Debentures in its individual capacity or as Remarketing Agent for any action or failure to act, on its part in connection with a Remarketing or otherwise, except if such liability is judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on its part. The Remarketing Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase Remarketed Debentures for its own account.

    If at any time during the term of this Agreement, any event of default under the Indenture or any event that with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would become an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, then the obligations and duties of the Remarketing Agent under this Agreement shall be suspended until such default or event has been cured. The Company will cause the Indenture Trustee and the Purchase Contract Agent to give the Remarketing Agent notice of all such defaults and events of which such trustee or agent is aware.

    SECTION 10.  Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate as to the Remarketing Agent on the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Remarketing Agent pursuant to Section 7. In addition, the obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder may be terminated by it by notice given to the Company prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Remarketing Date if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 5(g), (h) or (i) shall have occurred.

    SECTION 11.  Notices.  Except as otherwise stated herein, all statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Remarketing Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to                            ; if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail to 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho, 83728-0001 or by facsimile transmission to (208) 384-4912, Attention: General Counsel; if to the Trust shall be delivered or sent by mail to c/o Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho, 83728-0001, or by facsimile transmission to (208) 384-4912, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy sent to the Company; if to the Property Trustee shall be delivered or sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust; if to the Indenture Trustee shall be sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust; if to the Purchase Contract Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust; and if to the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail to JPMorgan Chase Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Institutional Trust Services.

15


    Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

    SECTION 12.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Remarketing Agent, the Company to the extent provided in Section 6 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company, each person who controls the Company or the Remarketing Agent, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Debentures from the Remarketing Agent shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

    SECTION 13.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

    SECTION 14.  Jurisdiction.  The Company hereby submits to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

    SECTION 15.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more separate counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

    SECTION 16.  Headings.  The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

16


    If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Remarketing Agent, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.


 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 
       
        Name:    
           
        Title:    
           
Receipt Acknowledged:    

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
  as Purchase Contract Agent

 

 

By:

 

 

 

 
 
   
  Name:      
   
   
  Title:      
   
   

Accepted:

 

 

[NAME OF REMARKETING AGENT]

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 
   
Authorized Representative
   

17



Boise Cascade Trust I
Boise Cascade Corporation

7.50% Preferred Securities due 2006
($50 liquidation amount)


[FORM OF REMARKETING AGREEMENT*]

    [DATE]

[NAME OF REMARKETING AGENT]

                                    

                                    

Ladies and Gentlemen:

    [Name of Remarketing Agent], a                            (the "Remarketing Agent"), is undertaking to remarket 7.50% Preferred Securities due 2006 (the "Preferred Securities"), issued by Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the Business Trust Act of Delaware (the "Trust"), and guaranteed by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), under the Guarantee Agreement between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee (the "Guarantee"), dated as of December 5, 2001. This Remarketing Agreement (this "Agreement") is being entered into pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement between the Company and BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent (the "Purchase Contract Agent"), dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Purchase Contract Agreement").

    The Preferred Securities have been issued pursuant to, and are governed by, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 5, 2001, (the "Declaration") among the Company, as depositor, BNY Western Trust Company, as property trustee (the "Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the administrative trustees named therein (the "Administrative Trustees").

    Each Preferred Security was issued as part of an equity security unit (each, a "Unit") that initially also included a contract (a "Purchase Contract") under which the holder of the related Unit will purchase from the Company on December 26, 2004, a number of shares (the "Issuable Common Stock") of common stock, par value $2.50 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") equal to the Settlement Rate as set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement. In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Preferred Securities constituting a part of the Units have been pledged by the Purchase Contract Agent, on behalf of the holders of the Units, to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as collateral agent, custodial agent and securities intermediary (the "Collateral Agent"), pursuant to the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Collateral Agent to secure the holders' obligation to purchase the Issuable Common Stock under the Purchase Contracts. The Property Trustee, on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities and the common trust securities of the Trust (the "Common Trust Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities, the "Trust Securities"), is holding the Company's 7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006 (the "Debentures"). The Debentures have been issued by the Company pursuant to Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee") (the "Original Indenture"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1989 (the "First Supplement"), the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Second Supplement"), and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Company, the Original Trustee and BNY Western


*This form of Remarketing Agreement is to be used if the Preferred Securities have been redeemed in whole.


Trust Company, as series trustee (the "Trustee") (the "Third Supplement," and, together with the Original Indenture, the First Supplement and the Second Supplement, the "Indenture").

    Capitalized terms used and not defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Pledge Agreement, the Declaration, and the Underwriting Agreement among the Company, the Trust and the several underwriters named therein, dated as of November 29, 2001, entered into in connection with the initial public offering of the Units (the "Underwriting Agreement"), as the case may be.

    The Remarketing (as defined below) of the Preferred Securities is provided for in the Purchase Contract Agreement. As used in this Agreement, "Transaction Documents" shall mean, collectively, the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Declaration, the Pledge Agreement and this Agreement; the term "Remarketed Preferred Securities" means the Preferred Securities subject to the Remarketing as notified to the Remarketing Agent by the Purchase Contract Agent and the Custodial Agent, on or prior to the first Business Day prior to a Remarketing Date; the term "Remarketing Procedures" means the procedures in connection with the Remarketing of the Preferred Securities, as described herein and in the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Pledge Agreement; the term "Remarketing" means the remarketing of the Remarketed Preferred Securities pursuant to the Remarketing Procedures; the term "Remarketing Date" means the third Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004; and the term "Instruments" means the Remarketed Preferred Securities, the Purchase Contracts, the Units, the Preferred Securities, the Debentures and the Issuable Common Stock.

    SECTION 1.  Appointment and Obligations of the Remarketing Agent.  

2


3


    SECTION 2.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company and the Trust.  The Company and the Trust, jointly and severally, represent, warrant and agree (i) on and as of the date hereof, (ii) on and as of the date the Prospectus or other Remarketing Materials (each as defined in Section 2(a) below) are first distributed in connection with the Remarketing (the "Commencement Date") and (iii) on and as of the Remarketing Date, that:

4


5


6


    SECTION 3.  Fees and Expenses.  The Company and the Trust covenant and agree with the Remarketing Agent that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the costs incident to the preparation, filing and printing of the [Registration Statement,] Prospectus and any Remarketing

7


Materials and any amendments or supplements thereto; (ii) the costs of distributing the [Registration Statement,] Prospectus and any Remarketing Materials and any amendments or supplements thereto; (iii) any fees and expenses of qualifying the Remarketed Preferred Securities under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions as provided in Section 4[(g)] and of preparing, printing and distributing a Blue Sky memorandum (including related fees and expenses of counsel to the Remarketing Agent); and (iv) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Trust hereunder.

    SECTION 4.  Further Agreements of the Company and the Trust.  The Company and the Trust agree to use their reasonable best efforts:

8


and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with the Remarketing and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials, as applicable, is delivered, not misleading, or if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus and the Remarketing Materials or to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to notify the Remarketing Agent and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Remarketing Agent and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Remarketing Agent may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

    SECTION 5.  Conditions to the Remarketing Agent's Obligations.  The obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder are subject to the accuracy, on and as of the date when made, of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Trust contained herein, to the performance by the Company and the Trust of their respective obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions. The Remarketing Agent may in its sole discretion waive on its behalf compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder.

9


10


    In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that he expresses no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and the State of Delaware and such counsel may rely as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New York upon the opinion of [            ] referred to in Section 5(c).

11


    In rendering such opinion, such counsel may state that they express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States and the State of Delaware and such counsel may rely as to all matters governed by the laws of the State of New York upon the opinion of [                            ] referred to in Section 5(c).

12


13


    All opinions, letters, evidence and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Remarketing Agent.

    SECTION 6.  Indemnification and Contribution.  (a) The Company and the Trust will, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless the Remarketing Agent against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Remarketing Agent may become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, [the Registration Statement,] the Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials, or any amendment 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 will reimburse the Remarketing Agent for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Remarketing Agent in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company and the Trust shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, [the Registration Statement,] the Prospectus or the Remarketing Materials, or any such amendment or supplement(s) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Remarketing Agent expressly for use therein.

14


15


    SECTION 7.  Resignation and Removal of the Remarketing Agent.  The Remarketing Agent may resign and be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder, and the Company may remove the Remarketing Agent, by giving 60 days prior written notice to the Purchase Contract Agent, the Property Trustee and the Trustee and, in the case of a removal, the removed Remarketing Agent; provided that no such resignation nor any such removal shall become effective until the Company shall have appointed at least one nationally recognized broker-dealer as successor Remarketing Agent and such successor Remarketing Agent shall have entered into a remarketing agreement with the Company and the Trust in which it shall have agreed to conduct the Remarketing in accordance with the Remarketing Procedures. In any such case, the Company will use its best reasonable efforts to appoint a successor Remarketing Agent and enter into such a remarketing agreement with such person as soon as reasonably practicable. The provisions of Sections 4 and 6 shall survive the resignation or removal of any Remarketing Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

    SECTION 8.  Dealing in the Remarketed Preferred Securities.  The Remarketing Agent, when acting as a Remarketing Agent or in its individual or any other capacity, may, to the extent permitted by law, buy, sell, hold and deal in any of the Remarketed Preferred Securities. The Remarketing Agent may exercise any vote or join in any action which any beneficial owner of Remarketed Preferred Securities may be entitled to exercise or take pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement or the Indenture with like effect as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder. The Remarketing Agent, in its individual capacity, either as principal or agent, may also engage in or have an interest in any financial or other transaction with the Trust, as freely as if it did not act in any capacity hereunder.

    SECTION 9.  Remarketing Agent's Performance; Duty of Care; Supervising Obligations.  The duties and obligations of the Remarketing Agent shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Agreement and the Purchase Contract Agreement. No implied covenants or obligations of or against the Remarketing Agent shall be read into this Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement. In the absence of bad faith on the part of the Remarketing Agent, the Remarketing Agent may conclusively rely upon any document furnished to it, which purports to conform to the requirements of this Agreement or the Purchase Contract Agreement as to the truth of the statements expressed in any of such documents. The Remarketing Agent shall be protected in acting upon any document or communication reasonably believed by it to have been signed, presented or made by the proper party or parties. The Remarketing Agent, acting under this Agreement, shall incur no liability to the Company, the Trust or to any holder of Remarketed Preferred Securities in its individual capacity or as Remarketing Agent for any action or failure to act, on its part in connection with a Remarketing or otherwise, except if such liability is judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct on its part. The Remarketing Agent may, but shall not be obligated to, purchase Remarketed Preferred Securities for its own account.

    If at any time during the term of this Agreement, any event of default under the Indenture, Declaration or the Guarantee or any event that with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would become an event of default under the Indenture, the Declaration or the Guarantee has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the Declaration or the Guarantee, as the case may be, then the obligations and duties of the Remarketing Agent under this Agreement shall be suspended until such default or event has been cured. The Company will cause the Trustee, the Property Trustee and the

16


Guarantee Trustee and the Purchase Contract Agent to give the Remarketing Agent notice of all such defaults and events of which such trustee or agent is aware.

    SECTION 10.  Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate as to the Remarketing Agent on the effective date of the resignation or removal of the Remarketing Agent pursuant to Section 7. In addition, the obligations of the Remarketing Agent hereunder may be terminated by it by notice given to the Company prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the Remarketing Date if, prior to that time, any of the events described in Sections 5(h), (i) or (j) shall have occurred.

    SECTION 11.  Notices.  Except as otherwise stated herein, all statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Remarketing Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail or facsimile transmission to            ; if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail to 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho, 83728-0001 or by facsimile transmission to (208) 384-4912, Attention:General Counsel; if to the Trust shall be delivered or sent by mail to c/o Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho, 83728-0001, or by facsimile transmission to (208) 384-4912, Attention: General Counsel, with a copy sent to the Company; if to the Property Trustee shall be delivered or sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust; if to the Indenture Trustee shall be sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention:Corporate Trust; if to the Purchase Contract Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington, 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust; and if to the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent shall be delivered or sent by mail to JPMorgan Chase Bank, 450 West 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001, Attention: Institutional Trust Services.

    Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of receipt thereof.

    SECTION 12.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Remarketing Agent, the Company and the Trust to the extent provided in Section 6 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company, the trustees of the Trust and each person who controls the Company, the Trust or the Remarketing Agent, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Preferred Securities from the Remarketing Agent shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

    SECTION 13.  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

    SECTION 14.  Jurisdiction.  The Company and the Trust hereby submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

    SECTION 15.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more separate counterparts and, if executed in more than one counterpart, the executed counterparts shall each be deemed to be an original but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

    SECTION 16.  Headings.  The headings herein are inserted for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

17


    If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Trust, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Remarketing Agent, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

18


        Very truly yours,
                 
        BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
                 
        By:  
            Name:    
            Title:    
                 
        BOISE CASCADE TRUST 1
                 
        By:  
            Name:    
            Title:    
Receipt Acknowledged:
         
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Purchase Contract Agent
         
By:  
    Name:    
    Title:    
         
Accepted:
         
[NAME OF REMARKETING AGENT]
         
By:  
    Authorized Representative

19




QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXHIBITS
PURCHASE CONTRACT AGREEMENT
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
ARTICLE II CERTIFICATE FORMS
ARTICLE III THE UNITS
ARTICLE IV THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
ARTICLE V THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS; THE REMARKETING
ARTICLE VI REMEDIES
ARTICLE VII THE AGENT
ARTICLE VIII SUPPLEMENTAL AGREEMENTS
ARTICLE IX CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
ARTICLE X COVENANTS
ARTICLE XI TRUST INDENTURE ACT
[* * * SIGNATURE PAGE TO FOLLOW * * *]
EXHIBIT A
Form of Face of Normal Units Certificate
AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
(Form of Reverse of Normal Units Certificate)
ABBREVIATIONS
SETTLEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT B
Form of Face of Stripped Units Certificate
AGENT'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
(Reverse of Stripped Units Certificate)
ABBREVIATIONS
SETTLEMENT INSTRUCTIONS
EXHIBIT C INSTRUCTION FROM PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT TO COLLATERAL AGENT
EXHIBIT D INSTRUCTION TO PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT
EXHIBIT E FORMS OF REMARKETING AGREEMENT
Boise Cascade Corporation 7.50% Senior Debentures due 2006
Boise Cascade Trust I Boise Cascade Corporation 7.50% Preferred Securities due 2006 ($50 liquidation amount)
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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Exhibit 99.7


AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

AMONG

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

as Depositor,

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,

as Property Trustee,

THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE),

as Delaware Trustee,

AND

THE ADMINISTRATIVE TRUSTEES NAMED HEREIN

Dated as of December 5, 2001

BOISE CASCADE TRUST I



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE 1   DEFINED TERMS   1
  Section 1.1   Definitions   1

ARTICLE 2

 

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST

 

8
  Section 2.1   Name   8
  Section 2.2   Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business   8
  Section 2.3   Organizational Expenses   8
  Section 2.4   Issuance of the Preferred Securities   8
  Section 2.5   Subscription and Purchase of Debentures; Issuance of the Common Securities   8
  Section 2.6   Declaration of Trust   9
  Section 2.7   Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions   9
  Section 2.8   Assets of Trust   12
  Section 2.9   Title to Trust Property   12

ARTICLE 3

 

PAYMENT ACCOUNT

 

12
  Section 3.1   Payment Account   12

ARTICLE 4

 

DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE

 

13
  Section 4.1   Distributions   13
  Section 4.2   [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]   14
  Section 4.3   [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]   14
  Section 4.4   Tax Event Redemption   14
  Section 4.5   Subordination of Common Securities   15
  Section 4.6   Payment Procedures   15
  Section 4.7   Tax Returns and Reports   15
  Section 4.8   Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust   15
  Section 4.9   Payments under Indenture   16

ARTICLE 5

 

TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES

 

16
  Section 5.1   Initial Ownership   16
  Section 5.2   The Trust Securities Certificates   16
  Section 5.3   Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates   16
  Section 5.4   Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities   17
  Section 5.5   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates   17
  Section 5.6   Persons Deemed Securityholders   18
  Section 5.7   Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses   18
  Section 5.8   Maintenance of Office or Agency   18
  Section 5.9   Appointment of Paying Agent   18
  Section 5.10   Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor   19
  Section 5.11   Global Securities; Non-Global Securities; Common Securities Certificate   19
  Section 5.12   Notices to Clearing Agency   20
  Section 5.13   Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates   20
  Section 5.14   Rights of Securityholders   21
  Section 5.15   CUSIP Numbers   21

ARTICLE 6

 

ACT OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING

 

21
  Section 6.1   Limitations on Voting Rights   21
  Section 6.2   Notice of Meetings   23
  Section 6.3   Meetings of Preferred Securityholders   23
  Section 6.4   Voting Rights   23
  Section 6.5   Proxies, Etc   23
  Section 6.6   Securityholder Action by Written Consent   23
  Section 6.7   Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes   23

  Section 6.8   Acts of Securityholders   24
  Section 6.9   Inspection of Records   25

ARTICLE 7

 

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

 

25
  Section 7.1   Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee   25
  Section 7.2   Representations and Warranties of Depositor   26

ARTICLE 8

 

THE TRUSTEES

 

27
  Section 8.1   Certain Duties and Responsibilities   27
  Section 8.2   Notice of Defaults   28
  Section 8.3   Certain Rights of Property Trustee   30
  Section 8.4   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities   32
  Section 8.5   May Hold Securities   32
  Section 8.6   Compensation; Indemnity; Fees   32
  Section 8.7   Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees   33
  Section 8.8   Conflicting Interests   33
  Section 8.9   Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor   33
  Section 8.10   Acceptance of Appointment by Successor   35
  Section 8.11   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business   35
  Section 8.12   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust   35
  Section 8.13   Reports by Property Trustee   35
  Section 8.14   Reports to the Property Trustee   36
  Section 8.15   Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent   36
  Section 8.16   Number of Trustees   36
  Section 8.17   Delegation of Power   36
  Section 8.18   Appointment of Administrative Trustees   36

ARTICLE 9

 

TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

 

37
  Section 9.1   Termination upon Expiration Date   37
  Section 9.2   Early Termination   37
  Section 9.3   Termination   37
  Section 9.4   Liquidation   38
  Section 9.5   Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Conversions or Replacements of the Trust   39

ARTICLE 10

 

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

40
  Section 10.1   Limitation of Rights of Securityholders   40
  Section 10.2   Amendment   40
  Section 10.3   Separability   41
  Section 10.4   Governing Law   41
  Section 10.5   Payments Due on Non-Business Day   41
  Section 10.6   Successors   41
  Section 10.7   Headings   41
  Section 10.8   Reports, Notices and Demands   41
  Section 10.9   Agreement Not to Petition   42
  Section 10.10   Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act   42
  Section 10.11   Acceptance of Terms of Declaration of Trust, Guarantee and Indenture   43
  Section 10.12   Counterparts   43
  Section 10.13   Purchases of Trust Securities   43

ii


Certificate of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I   Exhibit A
Form of Certificate Depositary Agreement   Exhibit B
Form of Common Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I   Exhibit C
Form of Preferred Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I   Exhibit D
Notice of Conversion   Exhibit E

iii



BOISE CASCADE TRUST I

Certain Sections of this Declaration of Trust
relating to Sections 310 through 318
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939

TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION

  DECLARATION OF
TRUST SECTION

Section 310 (a)(1)   8.7
  (a)(2)   8.7
  (a)(4)   2.7(a)(ii) 
  (b)   8.8

Section 311

(a)

 

8.12
  (b)   8.12

Section 312

(a)

 

5.7
  (b)   5.7
  (c)   5.7

Section 313

(a)

 

8.13(a) 
  (c)   10.8
  (d)   8.13(c) 
  (a)(4)   13(b) 
  (b)   8.13(b) 

Section 314

(a)

 

8.14
  (b)   Not Applicable
  (c)(1)   8.15
  (c)(2)   8.15
  (c)(3)   Not Applicable
  (d)   Not Applicable
  (e)   1.1, 8.15

Note: This reconciliation and tie sheet shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Declaration of Trust.


TRUST INDENTURE ACT
SECTION

  DECLARATION OF
TRUST SECTION

Section 315 (a)   8.1(a), 8.3(a) 
  (b)   8.2, 10.8
  (c)   8.1(a) 
  (d)   8.1, 8.3
  (e)   Not Applicable

Section 316

(a)

 

Not Applicable
  (a)(1)(A)   Not Applicable
  (a)(1)(B)   Not Applicable
  (a)(2)   Not Applicable
  (b)   Not Applicable
  (c)   6.7

Section 317

(a)(1)

 

Not Applicable
  (b)   5.9

Section 318

(a)

 

10.10


AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST

    AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of December 5, 2001, among (i) Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (including any successors or assigns, the "Depositor"); (ii) BNY Western Trust Company, a California banking corporation, as property trustee (in such capacity, the "Property Trustee" and, in its personal capacity and not in its capacity as Property Trustee, the "Bank"); (iii) The Bank of New York (Delaware), a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (in such capacity, the "Delaware Trustee"), (iv) Irving Littman, an individual, and John W. Holleran, an individual, each of whose address is c/o Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-0001 (each, an "Administrative Trustee" and, collectively, the "Administrative Trustees" and, collectively with the Property Trustee and Delaware Trustee, the "Trustees"); and (v) the several Holders (as hereinafter defined). The Depositor and the Trustees hereby agree as follows:

W I T N E S S E T H:

    WHEREAS, the Depositor and certain of the Trustees have heretofore duly declared and established a business trust pursuant to the Delaware Business Trust Act by the entering into of that certain Trust Agreement, dated as of May 21, 1998, as amended by the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of March 22, 1999 (the "Original Declaration of Trust"), and by the execution and filing by certain of the Trustees with the secretary of state of the state of Delaware of the Certificate of Trust, filed on May 21, 1998, attached as Exhibit A, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (as defined herein) and investing the proceeds thereof in the Debentures (as defined herein);

    WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued; and

    WHEREAS, the Depositor and the Trustees desire to amend and restate the Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety as set forth herein to provide for, among other things, (i) the issuance and sale of the Common Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust to the Depositor, (ii) the issuance and sale of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) by the Trust pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined herein), and (iii) the acquisition by the Trust from the Depositor of all of the right, title and interest in the Debentures;

    NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, each party, for the benefit of the other party and for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) of the Preferred Securities, hereby amends and restates the Original Declaration of Trust in its entirety and agrees as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINED TERMS

    SECTION 1.1.  Definitions.  For all purposes of this Declaration of Trust, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:


    "Act" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.

    "Additional Sums" means, with respect to the Trust Securities, the amount of Additional Sums (as defined in the Indenture) paid by the Depositor on the Debentures.

    "Administrative Trustee" means each of Irving Littman and John W. Holleran, each solely in his capacity as Administrative Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in his individual capacity, or such Administrative Trustee's successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor administrative trustee appointed as herein provided.

    "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person, provided, however that an Affiliate of the Depositor shall not be deemed to include the Trust. For the 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; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

    "Applicable Procedures" means, with respect to any transfer or transaction involving a Global Certificate or beneficial interest therein, the rules and procedures of the Clearing Agency for such security, to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.

    "Bank" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust.

    "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:

    "Bankruptcy Laws" has the meaning specified in Section 10.9.

    "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Depositor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.

    "Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificates" means a beneficial interest in the Preferred Securities Certificates, ownership and transfers of which shall be made through book entries by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 5.11.

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    "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or the City of Seattle are authorized or required by law or executive order to remain closed.

    "Certificate Depositary Agreement" means the agreement among the Trust, the Depositor and The Depository Trust Company, as the initial Clearing Agency, dated as of the Closing Date, relating to the Trust Securities Certificates substantially in the form attached as Exhibit B, as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time.

    "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "clearing agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that has been designated to act as depositary for the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Certificate Depositary Agreement. The Depository Trust Company will be the initial Clearing Agency.

    "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to time a Clearing Agency effects book-entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.

    "Closing Date" means the first Time of Delivery (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement).

    "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, 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.

    "Common Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Common Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C.

    "Common Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $50 and having the rights provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

    "Common Stock" means common stock, $2.50 par value per share, of the Depositor.

    "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the Property Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust.

    "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

    "Debenture Event of Default" means an "Event of Default" as defined in the Indenture.

    "Debenture Redemption Date" means, with respect to any Debentures to be redeemed under the Indenture, the date fixed for redemption thereof under the Indenture.

    "Debenture Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, a California banking corporation, as Series Trustee under the Indenture and any successor thereto or successor Series Trustee under the Indenture.

    "Debentures" means the Depositor's 7.50% senior debentures due 2006 issued pursuant to the Indenture.

    "Declaration of Trust" means this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, as the same may be modified, amended or supplemented in accordance with the applicable provisions hereof, including all exhibits hereto, including, for all purposes of this Declaration of Trust and any such modification, amendment or supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of

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and govern this Declaration of Trust and any such modification, amendment or supplement, respectively.

    "Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates" means either or both (as the context requires) of (a) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.11(a) and (b) Preferred Securities Certificates issued in certificated, fully registered form as provided in Section 5.13.

    "Delaware Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C., Section 3801, et. seq., as it may be amended from time to time.

    "Delaware Trustee" means the Person identified as the "Delaware Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in its capacity as Delaware Trustee of the Trust formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware trustee appointed as herein provided.

    "Depositor" has the meaning specified in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust.

    "Direct Action" has the meaning specified in Section 6.8.

    "Distribution Date" has the meaning specified in Section 4.1(a).

    "Distributions" means amounts payable in respect of the Trust Securities as provided in Section 4.1.

    "Early Termination Event" has the meaning specified in Section 9.2.

    "Event of Default" means the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default, whatever the reason for such Debenture 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.

    "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 9.1.

    "Failed Remarketing" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Global Certificate" has the meaning specified in Section 5.2.

    "Guarantee" means the Guarantee Agreement executed and delivered by the Depositor and BNY Western Trust Company, a California banking corporation, as guarantee trustee, contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, as amended from time to time.

    "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Trust Securities Certificate representing a Trust Security is registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

    "Indenture" means that certain Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, between the Depositor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Depositor and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1989, the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Depositor and the original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Depositor, the Original Trustee and BNY Western Trust Company, as series trustee, and as the same may be further amended or supplemented from time to time.

    "Lien" means any lien, pledge, charge, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, adverse ownership interest, hypothecation, assignment, security interest or preference, priority or other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature whatsoever.

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    "Liquidation Amount" means an amount with respect to the assets of the Trust equal to $50 per Trust Security.

    "Liquidation Date" means each date on which Debentures or cash are to be distributed to Holders of Trust Securities in connection with a termination and liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4(a).

    "Liquidation Distribution" has the meaning specified in Section 9.4(d).

    "1940 Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

    "Normal Units" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman, the President or a Vice President, and by (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Depositor, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to Section 8.15 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Depositor. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:

    "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Trust, the Property Trustee or the Depositor, and who may be an employee of any thereof, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee. Any Opinion of Counsel delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration of Trust shall include:

    "Original Declaration of Trust" has the meaning specified in the recitals to this Declaration of Trust.

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    "Outstanding", when used with respect to Trust Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Trust Securities theretofore executed and delivered under this Declaration of Trust, except:

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite Liquidation Amount of the Outstanding Trust Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, Trust Securities owned by the Depositor, any Trustee or any Affiliate of the Depositor or any Trustee shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that (a) in determining whether any Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Trust Securities that such Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded and (b) the foregoing shall not apply at any time when all of the Outstanding Trust Securities are owned by the Depositor, one or more of the Trustees and/or any such Affiliate. Trust Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Securities Registrar the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Trust Securities and that the pledgee is not the Depositor or any Affiliate of the Depositor.

    "Owner" means each Person who is the beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Preferred Securities Certificate as reflected in the records of the Clearing Agency or, if a Clearing Agency Participant is not the Owner, then as reflected in the records of a Person maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly or indirectly, in accordance with the rules of such Clearing Agency).

    "Paying Agent" means any paying agent or co-paying agent appointed pursuant to Section 5.9.

    "Payment Account" means a segregated non-interest bearing corporate trust account maintained by the Property Trustee with the Bank in its trust department for the benefit of the Securityholders in which all amounts paid in respect of the Debentures will be held and from which the Property Trustee shall make payments to the Securityholders in accordance with Section 4.1.

    "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, limited liability company or corporation, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

    "Preferred Securities Certificate" means a certificate evidencing ownership of Preferred Securities, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit D.

    "Preferred Security" means an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, having a Liquidation Amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $50 and having the rights provided therefor in this Declaration of Trust, including the right to receive Distributions and a Liquidation Distribution as provided herein.

    "Property Trustee" means the commercial bank or trust company identified as the "Property Trustee" in the preamble to this Declaration of Trust solely in its capacity as Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in interest in such capacity, or any successor property trustee appointed as herein provided.

    "Purchase Contract" has the meaning provided in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

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    "Purchase Contract Agent" means BNY Western Trust Company, as purchase contract agent under the Purchase Contract Agreement until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor Purchase Contract Agent.

    "Purchase Contract Agreement" means the Purchase Contract Agreement dated as of December 5, 2001 between the Purchase Contract Agent and the Depositor.

    "Redemption Date" has the meaning provided in the Indenture.

    "Redemption Treasury Portfolio" has the meaning provided in the Indenture.

    "Related Party" means, with respect to the Depositor, any direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Depositor or any other Person that owns, directly or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Depositor.

    "Relevant Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.

    "Remarketing Agent" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Remarketing Agreement" means the form of Remarketing Agreement to be entered into by and among the Depositor, the Trust, the Remarketing Agent and the Purchase Contract Agent in connection with the remarketing of the capital securities.

    "Remarketing Date" means the business day preceding September 16, 2004.

    "Remarketing Value" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Reset Agent" means a nationally recognized investment banking firm chosen by the Depositor to determine the Reset Rate.

    "Reset Rate" has the meaning set forth in the Remarketing Agreement.

    "Securities Register" and "Securities Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 5.4.

    "Securityholder" has the same meaning as "Holder."

    "Subsequent Remarketing Date" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Successor Delaware Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.

    "Successor Property Trustee" has the meaning specified in Section 8.9.

    "Successor Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 9.5.

    "Tax Event" has the meaning set forth in the Indenture.

    "Tax Event Redemption" has the meaning provided in the Indenture.

    "Termination Event" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    "Trust" means Boise Cascade Trust I, the Delaware business trust continued hereby.

    "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

    "Trust Property" means (a) the Debentures, (b) any cash on deposit in, or owing to, the Payment Account, and (c) all proceeds and rights in respect of the foregoing to be held by the Property Trustee pursuant to the terms of this Declaration of Trust for the benefit of the Securityholders.

    "Trust Security" means any one of the Common Securities or the Preferred Securities.

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    "Trust Securities Certificate" means any one of the Common Securities Certificates, the Global Certificates or the Certificated Preferred Securities.

    "Trustees" means, collectively, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees.

    "Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of November 29, 2001, among the Trust, the Depositor, and the Underwriters named therein.

    "Units" has the meaning set forth in the Purchase Contract Agreement.


ARTICLE 2

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST

    SECTION 2.1.  Name.  The Trust created hereby shall be known as "Boise Cascade Trust I", as such name may be modified from time to time by the Administrative Trustees following written notice to the Holders of Trust Securities and the other Trustees, in which name the Trustees may conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts and other instruments on behalf of the Trust and sue and be sued.

    SECTION 2.2.  Office of the Delaware Trustee; Principal Place of Business.  The address of the Delaware Trustee in the State of Delaware is White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, or such other address in the state of Delaware as the Delaware Trustee may designate by written notice to the Securityholders and the Depositor. The principal executive office of the Trust is 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-6161.

    SECTION 2.3.  Organizational Expenses.  The Depositor shall pay organizational expenses of the Trust as they arise or shall, upon request of any Trustee, promptly reimburse such Trustee for any such expenses paid by such Trustee. The Depositor shall make no claim upon the Trust Property for the payment of such expenses.

    SECTION 2.4.  Issuance of the Preferred Securities.  On November 29, 2001, the Depositor and an Administrative Trustee on behalf of the Trust executed and delivered the Underwriting Agreement. On the Closing Date, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute and deliver in accordance with Section 5.2 Preferred Securities Certificates, in an aggregate amount of 3,000,000 (or up to 3,450,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full) Preferred Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $150,000,000 (or up to $172,500,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full), against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Preferred Securities of $150,000,000, (or up to $172,500,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full), which amount the Administrative Trustees shall promptly deliver to the Property Trustee.

    SECTION 2.5.  Subscription and Purchase of Debentures; Issuance of the Common Securities.  Contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Declaration of Trust, the Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, shall subscribe to and purchase from the Depositor the Debentures, registered in the name of the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and having an aggregate principal amount equal to $154,700,000, (or up to $177,836,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full) and, in satisfaction of the purchase price for such Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall deliver to the Depositor the sum of $154,700,000 (or up to $177,836,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full). Contemporaneously therewith, an Administrative Trustee, on behalf of the Trust, shall execute in accordance with Section 5.2 and deliver to the Depositor the Common Securities Certificates registered in the name of the Depositor, in an aggregate amount of 94,000 (or up to

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106,720 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full) Common Securities having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of $4,700,000 (or up to $5,336,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full) against receipt of the aggregate purchase price of such Common Securities from the Depositor in the amount of $4,700,000 (or up to $5,336,000 if the Over-Allotment Option under the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full).

    SECTION 2.6.  Declaration of Trust.  The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell Trust Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Debentures, (b) to distribute the Trust's income as provided in this Declaration of Trust, and (c) to engage in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto. The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust. The Depositor hereby appoints the Trustees as trustees of the Trust, to have all the rights, powers and duties to the extent set forth herein, and the Trustees hereby accept such appointment. The Property Trustee hereby declares that it will hold the Trust Property in trust upon and subject to the conditions set forth herein for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders. The Administrative Trustees shall have all rights, powers and duties set forth herein and in accordance with applicable law with respect to accomplishing the purposes of the Trust. The Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities, of the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees set forth herein. The Delaware Trustee shall be one of the Trustees of the Trust for the sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section 3807 of the Delaware Business Trust Act.

    SECTION 2.7.  Authorization to Enter into Certain Transactions.

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    SECTION 2.8.  Assets of Trust.  The assets of the Trust shall consist of only the Trust Property.

    SECTION 2.9.  Title to Trust Property.  Legal title to all Trust Property shall be vested at all times in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) and shall be held and administered by the Property Trustee for the benefit of the Trust and the Securityholders in accordance with this Declaration of Trust. Each Securityholder shall not have legal title to any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.


ARTICLE 3

PAYMENT ACCOUNT

    SECTION 3.1.  Payment Account.

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ARTICLE 4

DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE

    SECTION 4.1.  Distributions.

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    SECTION 4.2.  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

    SECTION 4.3.  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

    SECTION 4.4.  Tax Event Redemption.

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    SECTION 4.5.  Subordination of Common Securities.  Payment of Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on the Trust Securities shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on any Common Security, and no other payment on account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of Common Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on all Outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto shall have been made or provided for, and all funds immediately available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions (including Additional Amounts, if applicable) on Preferred Securities then due and payable.

    SECTION 4.6.  Payment Procedures.  Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the Securities Register or, if the Preferred Securities are held by a Clearing Agency, such Distributions shall be made to the Clearing Agency in immediately available funds, in accordance with the Certificate Depositary Agreement on the applicable Distribution Dates. Payments in respect of the Common Securities shall be made in such manner as shall be mutually agreed between the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities.

    SECTION 4.7.  Tax Returns and Reports.  The Administrative Trustees shall prepare (or cause to be prepared), at the Depositor's expense, and file (or cause to be filed) all United States federal, state and local tax and information returns and reports required to be filed by or in respect of the Trust. In this regard, the Administrative Trustees shall (a) prepare and file (or cause to be prepared or filed) Form 1041 or the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be filed in respect of the Trust in each taxable year of the Trust and (b) prepare and furnish (or cause to be prepared and furnished) to each Security holder a Form 1099 or the appropriate Internal Revenue Service form required to be furnished to such Securityholder or the information required to be provided on such form. The Administrative Trustees shall provide (or cause to be provided) the Depositor and the Property Trustee with a copy of all such returns, reports and schedules promptly after such filing or furnishing. The Administrative Trustees shall comply with United States federal withholding and backup withholding tax laws and information reporting requirements with respect to any payments to Securityholders under the Trust Securities.

    SECTION 4.8.  Payment of Taxes, Duties, Etc. of the Trust.  Upon receipt under the Debentures of Additional Sums, the Property Trustee, upon receipt of written notice from the Depositor or the Administrative Trustees, shall promptly pay from such Additional Sums any taxes, duties or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding taxes), as indicated in such notice, imposed on the Trust by the United States or any other taxing authority.

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    SECTION 4.9.  Payments under Indenture.  Any amount payable hereunder to any Holder of Preferred Securities (and any Owner with respect thereto) shall be reduced by the amount of any corresponding payment such Holder (or Owner) has directly received pursuant to Article V of the Indenture in accordance with the terms of Section 6.8 hereof.


ARTICLE 5

TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES

    SECTION 5.1.  Initial Ownership.  Upon the formation of the Trust and until the issuance of the Trust Securities, and at any time during which no Trust Securities are Outstanding, the Depositor shall be the sole beneficial owner of the Trust.

    SECTION 5.2.  The Trust Securities Certificates.  The Preferred Securities Certificates shall be issued in minimum authorized denominations of $50 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples of $50 in excess thereof, and the Common Securities Certificates shall be issued in denominations of $50 Liquidation Amount and integral multiples thereof. The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the Trust Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust. Initially the Preferred Securities will be represented by one certificate registered in the name of BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent and one zero balance certificate registered in the Securities Register in the name of a Clearing Agency or a nominee thereof, in global form (the "Global Certificate"). The Trust Securities Certificates shall be executed on behalf of the Trust by manual or facsimile signature of at least one Administrative Trustee and the Preferred Securities Certificates shall be authenticated by the Property Trustee. Trust Securities Certificates bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were, at the time when such signatures shall have been affixed, authorized to sign on behalf of the Trust, shall be validly issued and entitled to the benefit of this Declaration of Trust, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them shall have ceased to be so authorized prior to the delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates or did not hold such offices at the date of delivery of such Trust Securities Certificates. A transferee of a Trust Securities Certificate shall become a Securityholder, and shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a Securityholder hereunder, upon due registration of such Trust Securities Certificate in such transferee's name pursuant to Section 5.4.

    SECTION 5.3.  Delivery of Trust Securities Certificates.  On the Closing Date, the Administrative Trustees shall cause Trust Securities Certificates, in an aggregate Liquidation Amount as provided in Sections 2.4 and 2.5, to be executed (which execution may be manual or by facsimile) on behalf of the Trust and delivered to or upon the written order of the Depositor, signed by its Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, its President, or any Vice President, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or Controller without further corporate action by the Depositor, in authorized denominations.

    A Common Securities Certificate shall not be valid until executed by at least one Administrative Trustee. A Preferred Securities Certificate shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of an authorized signatory of the Property Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Preferred Securities Certificate has been authenticated under this Declaration of Trust. Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the Property Trustee shall authenticate the Preferred Securities Certificates for original issue.

    The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Administrative Trustees to authenticate Preferred Securities Certificates. An authenticating agent may authenticate Preferred Securities Certificates whenever the Property Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Declaration of Trust to authentication by the Property Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as the Property Trustee to deal with the Depositor or an Affiliate with respect to the authentication of Preferred Securities.

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    SECTION 5.4.  Registration of Transfer and Exchange of Preferred Securities.  The Administrative Trustees shall appoint a securities registrar (the "Securities Registrar"). The Securities Registrar shall keep or cause to be kept, at the office or agency maintained pursuant to Section 5.8, a securities register (the "Securities Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Securities Registrar shall provide for the registration of Preferred Securities Certificates and Common Securities Certificates (subject to Section 5.10 in the case of the Common Securities Certificates) and registration of transfers and exchanges of Preferred Securities Certificates as herein provided. The Property Trustee shall be the initial Securities Registrar.

    Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Preferred Security at an office or agency of the Depositor designated pursuant to Section 5.8 for such purpose, the Depositor shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Preferred Securities of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount.

    At the option of the Holder, and subject to the other provisions of this Section 5.4, Preferred Securities may be exchanged for other Preferred Securities of any authorized denomination and of a like Liquidation Amount, upon surrender of the Preferred Securities to be exchanged at any such office or agency. Whenever any Preferred Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Depositor shall execute, and the Property Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Preferred Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

    All Preferred Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities shall be the valid obligations of the Trust, evidencing the same rights, and entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration of Trust, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

    Every Preferred Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so requested by the Securities Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Securities Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.

    No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates, but the Securities Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Preferred Securities Certificates.

    SECTION 5.5.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Trust Securities Certificates.  If (a) any mutilated Trust Securities Certificate shall be surrendered to the Securities Registrar, or if the Securities Registrar shall receive evidence to its satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Trust Securities Certificate and (b) there shall be delivered to the Securities Registrar and the Administrative Trustees such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then in the absence of notice that such Trust Securities Certificate shall have been acquired by a protected purchaser, the Administrative Trustees, or any one of them, on behalf of the Trust shall execute and make available for authentication, where applicable, and delivery, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Trust Securities Certificate, a new Trust Securities Certificate of like denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Trust Securities Certificate under this Section, the Securities Registrar may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicative Trust Securities Certificate issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust, as if originally issued, whether or not the lost, stolen or destroyed Trust Securities Certificate shall be found at any time.

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    SECTION 5.6.  Persons Deemed Securityholders.  The Property Trustee and the Securities Registrar shall treat the Person in whose name any Trust Securities Certificate shall be registered in the Securities Register as the owner of such Trust Securities Certificate for the purpose of receiving Distributions and for all other purposes whatsoever, and neither the Property Trustee nor the Securities Registrar shall be bound by any notice to the contrary.

    SECTION 5.7.  Access to List of Securityholders' Names and Addresses.  The Administrative Trustees or the Depositor shall furnish or cause to be furnished (unless the Property Trustee is acting as Securities Registrar with respect to the Trust Securities under the Declaration of Trust) a list, in such form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders as of the most recent record date (a) to the Property Trustee, quarterly at least 5 Business Days before each Distribution Date, and (b) to the Property Trustee, as promptly as practicable after receipt by the Depositor of a request therefor from the Property Trustee in order to enable the Property Trustee to discharge its obligations under this Declaration of Trust, in each case to the extent such information is in the possession or control of the Administrative Trustees or the Depositor and is not identical to a previously supplied list or has not otherwise been received by the Property Trustee in its capacity as Securities Registrar. The rights of Securityholders to communicate with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Declaration of Trust or under the Trust Securities, and the corresponding rights of the Trustee shall be as provided in the Trust Indenture Act, except to the extent Section 3819 of the Delaware Business Trust Act would require greater access to such information, in which case the latter shall apply. Each Holder, by receiving and holding a Trust Securities Certificate, and each Owner shall be deemed to have agreed not to hold the Depositor, the Property Trustee or the Administrative Trustees accountable by reason of the disclosure of its name and address, regardless of the source from which such information was derived.

    SECTION 5.8.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.  The Securities Registrar shall maintain in The City of New York an office or offices or agency or agencies where Preferred Securities Certificates may be surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Trustees in respect of the Trust Securities Certificates may be served. The Securities Registrar initially designates BNY Western Trust Company, c/o The Bank of New York, Corporate Trust Window, 15 Broad Street, New York, New York 10007, as its principal corporate trust office for such purposes. The Securities Registrar shall give prompt written notice to the Depositor and to the Securityholders of any change in the location of the Securities Register or any such office or agency.

    SECTION 5.9.  Appointment of Paying Agent.  In the event that the Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form only, the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency (the "Paying Agent") where the Preferred Securities may be presented for payment. The Paying Agent shall make Distributions to Securityholders from the Payment Account and shall report the amounts of such Distributions to the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees. Any Paying Agent shall have the revocable power to withdraw funds from the Payment Account for the purpose of making the Distributions referred to above. The Administrative Trustees may revoke such power and remove the Paying Agent if such Trustees determine in their sole discretion that the Paying Agent shall have failed to perform its obligations under this Declaration of Trust in any material respect. The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee, and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and the Depositor in their sole discretion. Any Person acting as Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee and the Depositor. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be the Paying Agent or a successor Paying Agent shall resign or its authority to act be revoked, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor that is reasonably acceptable to the Property Trustee and the Depositor to act as Paying Agent (which shall be a bank or trust company). Each successor Paying Agent or any additional Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustees that, as Paying Agent, such successor Paying Agent or additional Paying Agent will hold all sums, if

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any, held by it for payment to the Securityholders in trust for the benefit of the Securityholders entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to each Securityholder. The Paying Agent shall return all unclaimed funds to the Property Trustee and upon removal of a Paying Agent such Paying Agent shall also return all funds in its possession to the Property Trustee. The provisions of Sections 8.1, 8.3 and 8.6 shall apply to the Property Trustee also in its role as Paying Agent, for so long as the Property Trustee shall act as Paying Agent and, to the extent applicable, to any other paying agent appointed hereunder. Any reference in this Agreement to the Paying Agent shall include any co-paying agent unless the context requires otherwise.

    SECTION 5.10.  Ownership of Common Securities by Depositor.  On the Closing Date, the Depositor shall acquire and retain beneficial and record ownership of the Common Securities. To the fullest extent permitted by law, and except as provided in the following sentence, any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void. Subject to this Article 5, the Depositor and any Related Party may only transfer Common Securities to the Depositor or a Related Party of the Depositor; provided that, any such transfer is subject to the condition precedent that the transferor obtain the written opinion of nationally recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters that such transfer would not cause more than an insubstantial risk that:

The Administrative Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY PERMITTED UNDER THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST OF BOISE CASCADE TRUST I."

    SECTION 5.11.  Global Securities; Non-Global Securities; Common Securities Certificate.

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    Upon the request of the Property Trustee in connection with the occurrence of any of the events specified in the preceding paragraph, the Depositor shall cause as promptly as practicable to be made available to the Property Trustee a reasonable supply of Preferred Securities that are not in the form of Global Certificates. The Property Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon any order, direction or request of the Clearing Agency or its authorized representative which is given or made pursuant to this Article 5 if such order, direction or request is given or made in accordance with the Applicable Procedures.

    SECTION 5.12.  Notices to Clearing Agency.  To the extent that a notice or other communication to the Owners is required under this Declaration of Trust, unless and until Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates shall have been issued to Owners pursuant to Section 5.13, the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee shall give all such notices and communications specified herein to be given to Owners to the Clearing Agency, and shall have no obligations to provide notices directly to the Owners.

    SECTION 5.13.  Definitive Preferred Securities Certificates.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Declaration of Trust, no Global Certificate may be exchanged in whole or in part for Preferred Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Certificate in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Clearing Agency for such Global Certificate or a nominee thereof unless (i) such Clearing Agency (A) has notified the Depositor that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Clearing Agency for such Global Certificate or (B) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered as such under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and in either case the Trust and the Depositor thereupon fails to appoint a successor Clearing Agency, (ii) the Depositor, at its option, notifies the Property Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of the Preferred Securities in certificated form, or (iii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would be an Event of Default. In all cases, Certificated Preferred Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Certificate or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any authorized denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Clearing Agency (in accordance with its customary procedures).

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    SECTION 5.14.  Rights of Securityholders.  The legal title to the Trust Property is vested exclusively in the Property Trustee (in its capacity as such) in accordance with Section 2.9, and the Securityholders shall not have any right or title therein other than the undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust conferred by their Trust Securities and they shall have no right to call for any partition or division of property, profits or rights of the Trust except as described below. The Trust Securities shall be personal property giving only the rights specifically set forth therein and in this Declaration of Trust. The Trust Securities shall have no preemptive or similar rights and, when issued and delivered to Securityholders against payment of the purchase price therefor, will be fully paid and nonassessable by the Trust. The Holders of the Trust Securities, in their capacities as such, shall be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration of Trust, the Debentures, the Securities Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Depositor shall not be:

    SECTION 5.15.  CUSIP Numbers.  The Trust in issuing the Trust Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Property Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Trust Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Trust Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Depositor will promptly notify the Trustees of any change in the "CUSIP" numbers.


ARTICLE 6

ACT OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING

    SECTION 6.1.  Limitations on Voting Rights.

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    SECTION 6.2.  Notice of Meetings.  Notice of all meetings of the Holders of the Preferred Securities, stating the time, place and purpose of the meeting, shall be given by the Property Trustee pursuant to Section 10.8 to each Preferred Securityholder of record, at its registered address, at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the meeting. At any such meeting, any business properly before the meeting may be so considered whether or not stated in the notice of the meeting. Any adjourned meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice.

    SECTION 6.3.  Meetings of Preferred Securityholders.  No annual meeting of Securityholders is required to be held. The Administrative Trustees, however, shall call a meeting of Securityholders to vote on any matter upon the written request of the Preferred Securityholders of record of 10% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) and the Administrative Trustees or the Property Trustee may, at any time in their discretion, call a meeting of the Holders of Preferred Securities to vote on any matters as to which such Holders are entitled to vote.

    Holders of record of 50% of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount), present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of Securityholders.

    If a quorum is present at a meeting, an affirmative vote by the Holders of record of Preferred Securities present, in person or by proxy, holding more than a majority of the Preferred Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) held by Holders of record of Preferred Securities present, either in person or by proxy, at such meeting shall constitute the action of the Securityholders, unless this Declaration of Trust requires a greater number of affirmative votes.

    SECTION 6.4.  Voting Rights.  Securityholders shall be entitled to one vote for each $50 of Liquidation Amount represented by their Trust Securities in respect of any matter as to which such Securityholders are entitled to vote. Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred Securities that are owned at such time by the Depositor, the Trustees or any affiliate of any Trustee shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if such Preferred Securities were not outstanding.

    SECTION 6.5.  Proxies, Etc.  At any meeting of Securityholders, any Securityholders entitled to vote thereat may vote by proxy, provided that no proxy shall be voted at any meeting unless it shall have been placed on file with the Administrative Trustees, or with such other officer or agent of the Trust as the Administrative Trustees may direct, for verification prior to the time at which such vote shall be taken. Pursuant to a resolution of the Property Trustee, proxies may be solicited in the name of the Property Trustee or one or more officers of the Property Trustee. Only Securityholders of record shall be entitled to vote. When Trust Securities are held jointly by several Persons, any one of them may vote at any meeting in person or represented by proxy in respect of such Trust Securities, but if more than one of them shall be present at such meeting in person or by proxy, and such joint owners or their proxies so present disagree as to any vote to be cast, such vote shall not be received in respect of such Trust Securities. A proxy purporting to be executed by or on behalf of a Securityholder shall be deemed valid unless challenged at or prior to its exercise, and the burden of proving invalidity shall rest on the challenger. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date of execution.

    SECTION 6.6.  Securityholder Action by Written Consent.  Any action which may be taken by Securityholders at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if Securityholders holding more than a majority of all Outstanding Trust Securities (based upon their Liquidation Amount) entitled to vote in respect of such action (or such larger proportion thereof as shall be required by any express provision of this Declaration of Trust) shall consent to the action in writing.

    SECTION 6.7.  Record Date for Voting and Other Purposes.  For the purposes of determining the Securityholders who are entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting or by written consent, or to

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participate in any Distribution on the Trust Securities in respect of which a record date is not otherwise provided for in this Declaration of Trust, or for the purpose of any other action, the Property Trustee may from time to time fix a date, not more than 60 days prior to the date of any meeting of Securityholders or the payment of Distributions or other action, as the case may be, as a record date for the determination of the identity of the Securityholders of record for such purposes.

    SECTION 6.8.  Acts of Securityholders.  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Declaration of Trust to be given, made or taken by Securityholders or Owners may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders or Owners in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to an Administrative Trustee. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Securityholders or Owners 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 Declaration of Trust and (subject to Section 8.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustees, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

    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 of such execution or by a certificate of a 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 a signer acting in a capacity other than the signer's individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the signer's 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 any Trustee receiving the same deems sufficient.

    The ownership of Preferred Securities shall be proved by the Securities Register.

    Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Securityholder of any Trust Security shall bind every future Securityholder of the same Trust Security and the Securityholder of every Trust Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustees or the Trust in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Trust Security.

    Without limiting the foregoing, a Securityholder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Trust Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the Liquidation Amount of such Trust 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 part of such Liquidation Amount.

    If any dispute shall arise between the Securityholders and the Administrative Trustees or among such Securityholders or Trustees with respect to the authenticity, validity or binding nature of any request, demand, authorization, direction, consent, waiver or other Act of such Securityholder or Trustee under this Article 6, then the determination of such matter by the Property Trustee shall be conclusive with respect to such matter.

    Upon the occurrence and continuation of an Event of Default, the holders of Preferred Securities shall rely on the enforcement by the Property Trustee of its rights as holder of the Debentures against the Depositor. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures after a request therefor and offer of indemnification satisfactory to the Property Trustee by a holder of Preferred Securities, such holder may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, proceed to enforce such rights directly against the Depositor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Depositor to pay interest

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or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable, then a holder of Preferred Securities shall have the right to institute a proceeding directly against the Depositor, for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal amount of or interest on Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities of such holder after the respective due date specified in the Debentures (a "Direct Action"). In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the holders of Common Securities will be subordinate to the rights of such holder of Preferred Securities. In connection with any such Direct Action, the rights of the Depositor will be subrogated to the rights of any holder of the Preferred Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Depositor to such holder of Preferred Securities as a result of such Direct Action.

    A Securityholder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Depositor under the Guarantee to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee (as defined in the Guarantee), the Trust or any Person or entity.

    SECTION 6.9.  Inspection of Records.  Upon reasonable notice to the Administrative Trustees and the Property Trustee, the records of the Trust shall be open to inspection by Securityholders during normal business hours for any purpose reasonably related to such Securityholder's interest as a Securityholder.


ARTICLE 7

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

    SECTION 7.1.  Representations and Warranties of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee.  The Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, each severally on behalf of and as to itself, hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Depositor and the Securityholders that (each such representation and warranty made by the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee being made only with respect to itself):

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    SECTION 7.2.  Representations and Warranties of Depositor.  The Depositor hereby represents and warrants for the benefit of the Securityholders that:

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ARTICLE 8

THE TRUSTEES

    SECTION 8.1.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

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    SECTION 8.2.  Notice of Defaults.

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    SECTION 8.3.  Certain Rights of Property Trustee.  Subject to the provisions of Section 8.1:

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    No provision of this Declaration of Trust shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

    SECTION 8.4.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.  The recitals contained herein, in the Prospectus Supplement of the Depositor and the Trust dated November 29, 2001, and in the Trust Securities Certificates shall not be taken as the statements of the Trustees, and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustees shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Depositor of the proceeds of the Debentures.

    SECTION 8.5.  May Hold Securities.  Except as provided in the definition of the term "Outstanding" in Article 1, any Trustee or any other agent of any Trustee or the Trust, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Trust Securities and, subject to Sections 8.8 and 8.12, may otherwise deal with the Trust with the same rights it would have if it were not a Trustee or such other agent.

    SECTION 8.6.  Compensation; Indemnity; Fees.  The Depositor agrees:

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    SECTION 8.7.  Property Trustee Required; Eligibility of Trustees.

    SECTION 8.8.  Conflicting Interests.  If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Declaration of Trust. The Property Trustee's services as Trustee under the Guarantee and as Debenture Trustee shall not be deemed to constitute a conflicting interest.

    SECTION 8.9.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

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    SECTION 8.10.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.  In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Trust and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Depositor or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and if the Property Trustee is the resigning Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Property Trustee hereunder.

    In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Relevant Trustee, the retiring Relevant Trustee and each successor Relevant Trustee shall execute and deliver an amendment hereto wherein each successor Relevant Trustee shall accept such appointment and which shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Relevant Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee and upon the execution and delivery of such amendment the resignation or removal of the retiring Relevant Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Relevant Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Relevant Trustee; but, on request of the Trust or any successor Relevant Trustee, such retiring Relevant Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Relevant Trustee all Trust Property, all proceeds thereof and money held by such retiring Relevant Trustee hereunder.

    Upon request of any such successor Relevant Trustee, the Trust shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Relevant Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

    No successor Relevant Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Relevant Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

    SECTION 8.11.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.  Any corporation into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person 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 Relevant Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such Relevant Trustee, shall be the successor of such Relevant 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.

    SECTION 8.12.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Depositor or Trust.  If and when the Property Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Depositor or the Trust (or any other obligor upon the Debentures or the Trust Securities), the Property Trustee shall be subject to and shall take all actions necessary in order to comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Depositor or Trust (or any such other obligor).

    SECTION 8.13.  Reports by Property Trustee.

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    SECTION 8.14.  Reports to the Property Trustee.  The Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act (if any) and the compliance certificate required by Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

    SECTION 8.15.  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.  Each of the Depositor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration of Trust that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act shall be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.

    SECTION 8.16.  Number of Trustees.

    SECTION 8.17.  Delegation of Power.

    SECTION 8.18.  Appointment of Administrative Trustees.

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ARTICLE 9

TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER

    SECTION 9.1.  Termination upon Expiration Date.  Unless earlier terminated, the Trust shall automatically terminate on December 5, 2011 (the "Expiration Date"), following the distribution of the Trust Property in accordance with Section 9.4.

    SECTION 9.2.  Early Termination.  The first to occur of any of the following events is an "Early Termination Event":

    SECTION 9.3.  Termination.  The respective obligations and responsibilities of the Trustees and the Trust created and continued hereby shall terminate upon the latest to occur of the following: (a) the distribution by the Property Trustee to Securityholders upon the liquidation of the Trust pursuant to Section 9.4, of all amounts required to be distributed hereunder upon the final payment of the Trust Securities; (b) the payment of all expenses owed by the Trust; (c) the discharge of all administrative duties of the Administrative Trustees, including the performance of any tax reporting obligations with respect to the Trust or the Securityholders, and (d) the filing of the certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware pursuant to Section 3810 of the Delaware Business Trust Act. Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, each of Depositor's obligations set forth in Section 8.6 hereof shall survive and continue regardless of the occurrence of any of the foregoing.

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    SECTION 9.4.  Liquidation.

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    SECTION 9.5.  Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations, Conversions or Replacements of the Trust.  The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except pursuant to this Section 9.5. At the request of the Depositor, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Holders of the Preferred Securities, the Trust may merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to a trust organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Preferred Securities or (b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred Securities rank in priority with respect to Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Depositor expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity, possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose substantially identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease the Depositor has received an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of the Holder's interest in the new entity), (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register as an "investment company" under the 1940 Act, and (c) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, conversion or replacement, the Trust or such successor entity will be treated as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes, and (viii) the Depositor or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trust shall not, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, merge with or into, be replaced by or

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convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, convert into, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, conversion, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes.


ARTICLE 10

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

    SECTION 10.1.  Limitation of Rights of Securityholders.  The death or incapacity of any person having an interest, beneficial or otherwise, in Trust Securities shall not operate to terminate this Declaration of Trust, nor entitle the legal representatives or heirs of such person or any Securityholder for such person to claim an accounting, take any action or bring any proceeding in any court for a partition or winding-up of the arrangements contemplated hereby, nor otherwise affect the rights, obligations and liabilities of the parties hereto or any of them.

    SECTION 10.2.  Amendment.

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    SECTION 10.3.  Separability.  In case any provision in this Declaration of Trust or in the Trust Securities Certificates 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 10.4.  Governing Law.  This declaration of trust and the rights and obligations of each of the Securityholders, the trust, and trustees with respect to this declaration of trust in the trust securities shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal laws of the state of Delaware.

    SECTION 10.5.  Payments Due on Non-Business Day.  If the date fixed for any payment on any Trust Security shall be a day which is not a Business Day, then such payment need not be made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as though made on the date fixed for such payment, and no interest shall accrue thereon for the period after such date.

    SECTION 10.6.  Successors.  This Declaration of Trust shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of any successor to the Depositor, the Trust or the Relevant Trustee, including any successor by operation of law. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Depositor that is permitted under Article 8 of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Depositor's obligations hereunder, the Depositor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.

    SECTION 10.7.  Headings.  The Article and Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Declaration of Trust.

    SECTION 10.8.  Reports, Notices and Demands.  Any report, notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon any Securityholder or the Depositor may be given or served in writing by deposit thereof, first-class postage prepaid, in the United States mail, hand delivery or facsimile transmission, in each case, addressed, (a) in the case of a Holder of Preferred Securities, to such Holder as such

41


Holder's name and address may appear on the Securities Register; and (b) in the case of the Holder of the Common Securities, to Boise Cascade Corporation, 1111 West Jefferson Street, P.O. Box 50, Boise, Idaho 83728-0001, Attention: General Counsel.

    Any notice to Preferred Securityholders shall also be given to such Owners as have, within two years preceding the giving of such notice, filed their names and addresses with the Property Trustee for that purpose. Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon a Securityholder shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given, or made, for all purposes, upon hand delivery, mailing or transmission.

    Any notice, demand or other communication which by any provision of this Declaration of Trust is required or permitted to be given or served to or upon the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or the Administrative Trustees shall be given in writing addressed (until another address is published by the Trust) as follows: (a) with respect to the Property Trustee, to BNY Western Trust Company, 601 Union Street, Suite 1720, Seattle, Washington 98101, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, (b) with respect to the Delaware Trustee, to The Bank of New York, (Delaware), White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark, Delaware 19711, Attention: Corporate Trust Department, with a copy of any such notice to the Property Trustee at its address above, and (c) with respect to the Administrative Trustees, to them at the address for notices to the Depositor, marked "Attention: General Counsel." Such notice, demand or other communication to or upon the Trust or the Property Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made only upon actual receipt of the writing by the Trust or the Property Trustee.

    SECTION 10.9.  Agreement Not to Petition.  Each of the Trustees and the Depositor agrees for the benefit of the Securityholders that, until at least one year and one day after the Trust has been terminated in accordance with Article 9, it shall not file, or join in the filing of, a petition against the Trust under any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law (including, without limitation, the United States Bankruptcy Code) (collectively, "Bankruptcy Laws") or otherwise join in the commencement of any proceeding against the Trust under any Bankruptcy Law. In the event the Depositor takes action in violation of this Section 10.9, the Property Trustee agrees, for the benefit of Securityholders, that, at the expense of the Depositor, it shall file an answer with the bankruptcy court or otherwise properly contest the filing of such petition by the Depositor against the Trust or the commencement of such action and raise the defense that the Depositor has agreed in writing not to take such action and should be stopped and precluded therefrom and such other defenses, if any, as counsel for the Trustee or the Trust may assert. The provisions of this Section 10.9 shall survive the termination of this Declaration of Trust.

    SECTION 10.10.  Trust Indenture Act; Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

42


    SECTION 10.11.  Acceptance of Terms of Declaration of Trust, Guarantee and Indenture.  The receipt and acceptance of a Trust Security or any interest therein by or on behalf of a Securityholder or beneficial owner, without any signature or further manifestation of assent, shall constitute the unconditional acceptance by the securityholder and all others having a beneficial interest in such Trust Security of all the terms and provisions of this Declaration of Trust and the terms of the Guarantee and the Indenture, and shall constitute the agreement of the Trust, such securityholder and such others that the terms and provisions of this Declaration of Trust shall be binding, operative and effective as to the Trust and such securityholder and such others.

    SECTION 10.12.  Counterparts.  This Declaration of Trust may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and this Declaration of Trust may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.

    SECTION 10.13.  Purchases of Trust Securities.  Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States federal securities law), the Depositor or its subsidiaries or Affiliates may at any time and from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement. Any Preferred Securities so purchased may be cancelled along with a corresponding amount of the Debentures upon surrender of the Preferred Securities Certificates to the Property Trustee (or a reduction in the balance of the Global Certificate).

43


    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

        BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION,
as Depositor

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

 

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Property Trustee

 

 

By:

 

 
       
Name:
Title:

 

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK (DELAWARE),
as Delaware Trustee

 

 

 

 

 
    By:    
       
Name:
Title:

 

 


as Administrative Trustee

 

 


as Administrative Trustee

44


EXHIBIT A

CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
OF
BOISE CASCADE TRUST I

    THIS Certificate of Trust of Boise Cascade Trust I (the "Trust") is being duly executed and filed by Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware business corporation, and John W. Holleran, as trustees, to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 DEL. C. Section 3801 ET SEQ.).

    1.  NAME. The name of the business trust formed hereby is Boise Cascade Trust I.

    2.  DELAWARE TRUSTEE. The name and business address of the trustee of the Trust in the state of Delaware is Wilmington Trust Company, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19890.

    3.  EFFECTIVE DATE. This Certificate of Trust shall be effective upon filing.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being all of the initial trustees of the Trust, have executed this Certificate.

        WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

 

 

By:

 


        Name:
Title:

 

 


Name: John W. Holleran

EXHIBIT B

FORM OF CERTIFICATE
DEPOSITARY AGREEMENT


EXHIBIT C

THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY
PERMITTED UNDER THE AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
OF BOISE CASCADE TRUST I

Certificate Number
  Number of Common Securities

Certificate Evidencing Common Securities
of
Boise Cascade Trust I

Common Securities
(Liquidation Amount $50 per Common Security)

    Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Holder") is the registered owner of             common securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust (the "Common Securities"). In accordance with Section 5.10 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below), the Common Securities are not transferable and any attempted transfer hereof shall be void. The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of December 5, 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement entered into by the Holder and the Trust, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office.

    Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed this certificate this 5th day of December, 2001.

        BOISE CASCADE TRUST I

 

 

By:

 


        Name:
As Administrative Trustee

EXHIBIT D

    THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS A BOOK-ENTRY PREFERRED SECURITIES CERTIFICATE WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE DECLARATION OF TRUST HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") OR A NOMINEE OF DTC. THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR PREFERRED SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN DTC OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION OF TRUST AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS PREFERRED SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY DTC TO A NOMINEE OF DTC OR BY A NOMINEE OF DTC TO DTC OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF DTC) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.

    UNLESS THIS PREFERRED SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK), TO BOISE CASCADE TRUST I OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY PREFERRED SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.


Certificate Number
  Number of Preferred Securities

CUSIP No.        

$            


Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities
of
Boise Cascade Trust I

7.50% Preferred Securities
(Liquidation Amount $50 per Preferred Security)

    Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that             (the "Holder") is the registered owner of            preferred securities of the Trust representing an undivided beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust and designated the Boise Cascade Trust I 7.50% Preferred Securities (Liquidation Amount $50 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer as provided in Section 5.4 of the Declaration of Trust (as defined below). The designations, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities are set forth in, and this certificate and the Preferred Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to the terms and provisions of, the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of December 5, 2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration of Trust") including the designation of the terms of Preferred Securities as set forth therein. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Guarantee Agreement entered into by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and BNY Western Trust Company, as Guarantee Trustee, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Guarantee"), to the extent provided therein. The Trust will furnish a copy of the Declaration of Trust and the Guarantee to the Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place of business or registered office. Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration of Trust and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, one of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust has executed this certificate this        day of              , 2001.

        BOISE CASCADE TRUST I

 

 

By:

 


        Name:
An Administrative Trustee


PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

    This is one of the Preferred Securities referred to in the within-mentioned Declaration of Trust.

Dated:                             , 2001.       [                            ],
as Property Trustee

 

 

By:

 


Authorized Signatory


ASSIGNMENT

    FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Preferred Security to:


 






(Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)

 






(Insert address and zip code of assignee)

and irrevocably appoints


 






agent to transfer this Preferred Security Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

Date:

Signature:


(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security Certificate)

Signature Guarantee:  

Signatures must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution" meeting the requirements of the Securities Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be determined by the Securities Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL CERTIFICATE]

SCHEDULE A

    The initial Liquidation Amount of this Global Certificate shall be $            . The following increases or decreases in the Liquidation Amount of this Global Certificate have been made:

Date Made
  Amount of
increase in
Liquidation
Amount of this
Global
Certificate
including upon
exercise of over
allotment option

  Amount of
decrease in
Liquidation
Amount of this
Global
Certificate

  Liquidation
Amount of this
Global Certificate
following such
decrease or
increase

  Signature of
authorized
signatory of
Trustee or
Securities
Custodian




 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





 



 



 



 





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BOISE CASCADE TRUST I
AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST
ARTICLE 2 ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TRUST
ARTICLE 3 PAYMENT ACCOUNT
ARTICLE 4 DISTRIBUTIONS; REDEMPTION; EXCHANGE
ARTICLE 5 TRUST SECURITIES CERTIFICATES
ARTICLE 6 ACT OF SECURITYHOLDERS; MEETINGS; VOTING
ARTICLE 7 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
ARTICLE 8 THE TRUSTEES
ARTICLE 9 TERMINATION, LIQUIDATION AND MERGER
ARTICLE 10 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I
PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
ASSIGNMENT
SCHEDULE A
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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EXHBIIT 99.9


GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

between

BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

and

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY

Relating to the Preferred Securities of
Boise Cascade Trust I

Dated as of December 5, 2001




CROSS REFERENCE TABLE*

Section of Trust Indenture Act
of 1939, as amended

  Section of Guarantee
Agreement

ss. 310 (a)   4.1(a) 
  (b)   4.1(c), 2.8
  (c)   Not Applicable

ss. 311

(a)

 

2.2(b) 
  (b)   2.2(b) 
  (c)   Not Applicable

ss. 312

(a)

 

2.2(a) 
  (b)   2.2(b) 

ss. 313

 

2.3

ss. 314

(a)

 

2.4
  (b)   Not Applicable
  (c)   2.5
  (d)   Not Applicable
  (e)   1.1, 2.5, 3.2
  (f)   3.2

ss. 315

(a)

 

3.1(d) 
  (b)   2.7
  (c)   3.1
  (d)   3.1(d) 

ss. 316

(a)

 

1.1, 2.6, 5.4
  (b)   5.3

ss. 317

(a)

 

Not Applicable
  (b)   Not Applicable

ss. 318

(a)

 

2.1(b) 
  (b)   2.1
  (c)   2.1(a) 

* This Cross Reference Table does not constitute part of the Guarantee Agreement and shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
   
  Page
ARTICLE 1   DEFINITIONS   1
  Section 1.1   Definitions   1

ARTICLE 2

 

TRUST INDENTURE ACT

 

3
  Section 2.1   Trust Indenture Act; Application   3
  Section 2.2   List of Holders   3
  Section 2.3   Reports by the Guarantee Trustee   3
  Section 2.4   Periodic Reports to Guarantee Trustee   4
  Section 2.5   Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent   4
  Section 2.6   Events of Default; Waiver   4
  Section 2.7   Event of Default; Notice   4
  Section 2.8   Conflicting Interests   4

ARTICLE 3

 

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

4
  Section 3.1   Powers and Duties of the Guarantee Trustee   4
  Section 3.2   Certain Rights of Guarantee Trustee   6
  Section 3.3   Indemnity   7

ARTICLE 4

 

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

 

7
  Section 4.1   Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility   7
  Section 4.2   Appointment, Removal and Resignation of the Guarantee Trustee   8

ARTICLE 5

 

GUARANTEE

 

8
  Section 5.1   Guarantee   8
  Section 5.2   Waiver of Notice and Demand   8
  Section 5.3   Obligations Not Affected   8
  Section 5.4   Rights of Holders   9
  Section 5.5   Guarantee of Payment   9
  Section 5.6   Subrogation   9
  Section 5.7   Independent Obligations   9

ARTICLE 6

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

10

ARTICLE 7

 

TERMINATION

 

10
  Section 7.1   Termination   10

ARTICLE 8

 

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

10

ARTICLE 9

 

MISCELLANEOUS

 

10
  Section 9.1   Successors and Assigns   10
  Section 9.2   Amendments   10
  Section 9.3   Notices   11
  Section 9.4   Benefit   11
  Section 9.5   Interpretation   11
  Section 9.6   Governing Law   12


BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY

    This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 5, 2001, is executed and delivered by Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor") and BNY Western Trust Company, a California banking corporation, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Boise Cascade Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").

    WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the "Declaration of Trust"), dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Trustees named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the Holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is issuing 3,450,000 of its 7.50% Preferred Securities (liquidation preference $50 per preferred security) (the "Preferred Securities") representing preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer and having the terms set forth in the Declaration of Trust;

    WHEREAS, the Preferred Securities will be issued by the Issuer and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the Issuer's Common Preferred Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the Debentures (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) of the Guarantor which will be deposited with BNY Western Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration of Trust, as trust assets;

    WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase Preferred Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to the extent set forth herein, to pay to the Holders of the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

    NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the Preferred Securities.


ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

    SECTION 1.1.  DEFINITIONS.  As used in this Guarantee Agreement, the terms set forth below shall, unless the context otherwise requires, have the following meanings. Capitalized or otherwise defined terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in the Declaration of Trust as in effect on the date hereof.

    "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct common control with such specified Person, provided, however, that an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the Issuer. For the 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; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

    "Common Securities" means the securities representing common beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

    "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any Guarantee Payments, no Event of Default shall be deemed to have occurred under this Guarantee Agreement unless and until the Guarantor shall have received written notice of default and shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.

    "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer: (i) any


accumulated and unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of Trust) required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Issuer shall have received payments in respect of the Debentures, and (ii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Issuer, unless Debentures are distributed to the Holders, the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation preference of $50 per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid Distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of payment to the extent the Issuer shall have received payments in respect of the Debentures and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").

    "Guarantee Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, until a Successor Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Guarantee Trustee.

    "Holder" means any holder, as registered on the books and records of the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Guarantee Trustee or any Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Guarantee Trustee.

    "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1985, between the Guarantor and U.S. Bank Trust National Association (as successor in interest to Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York), as trustee (the "Original Trustee") (the "Original Indenture"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture between the Guarantor and the Original Trustee, dated as of December 20, 1989 (the "First Supplement"), the Second Supplemental Indenture between the Company and the Original Trustee, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Second Supplement"), and the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 5, 2001, among the Guarantor, the Original Trustee and BNY Western Trust Company, as series trustee (the "Trustee").

    "List of Holders" has the meaning specified in Section 2.2 (a).

    "Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by the Holder(s), voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation preference of all the outstanding Preferred Securities issued by the Issuer.

    "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed by (i) the Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President, and by (ii) the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person, and delivered to the Guarantee Trustee. Any Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:

    "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

2


    "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Guarantee Trustee, any Vice President, any Assistant Vice President, any Assistant Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer, any Trust Officer or Assistant Trust Officer or any other officer of the corporate trust department of the Guarantee Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

    "Successor Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.

    "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.


ARTICLE 2

TRUST INDENTURE ACT

    SECTION 2.1.  TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.  

    SECTION 2.2.  LIST OF HOLDERS.  

    SECTION 2.3.  REPORTS BY THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.  The Guarantee Trustee shall transmit to the Holders such reports concerning the Guarantee Trustee and its actions under this Guarantee Agreement as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Guarantee Trustee shall, within sixty days after each October 15 following the date of this Declaration of Trust deliver to the Holders a brief report, dated as of such October 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

    A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the Guarantee Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Preferred Securities are listed, with

3


the Commission and the Guarantor. The Guarantor will promptly notify the Guarantee Trustee when the Preferred Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

    SECTION 2.4.  PERIODIC REPORTS TO GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.  The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Securities and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

    SECTION 2.5.  EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.  The Guarantor shall provide to the Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Guarantee Agreement that relate to any of the matters set forth in Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.

    SECTION 2.6.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.  The Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences. Upon such waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent therefrom.

    SECTION 2.7.  EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.  

    SECTION 2.8.  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.  The Declaration of Trust and the Indenture shall be deemed to be specifically described in this Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.


ARTICLE 3

POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

    SECTION 3.1.  POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.  

4


5


    SECTION 3.2.  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.  

6


    SECTION 3.3.  INDEMNITY.  The Guarantor agrees to indemnify the Guarantee Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of the Guarantee Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Guarantee Agreement, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder. The Guarantee Trustee will not claim or exact any lien or charge on any Guarantee Payment as a result of any amount due to it under this Guarantee Agreement. The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Guarantee Agreement.


ARTICLE 4

GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

    SECTION 4.1.  GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.  

7


    SECTION 4.2.  APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.  


ARTICLE 5

GUARANTEE

    SECTION 5.1.  GUARANTEE.  The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert other than the defense of payment. The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.

    SECTION 5.2.  WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.  The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of the Guarantee Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Guarantee Trustee, Issuer or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and demands.

    SECTION 5.3.  OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.  The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the following:

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    There shall be no obligation of the Holders or the Guarantee Trustee to give notice to, or obtain the consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the foregoing.

    SECTION 5.4.  RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.  The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that: (i) this Guarantee Agreement will be deposited with the Guarantee Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee has the right to enforce this Guarantee Agreement on behalf of the Holders; (iii) the Holders of a Majority in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Guarantee Agreement or to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; (iv) if the Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Guarantee, any Holder may institute a legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person; and (v) if an Event of Default with respect to the Debentures constituting the failure to pay interest on or principal of the Debentures on the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable has occurred and is continuing, then any Holder shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to proceed directly against the Guarantor to obtain Guarantee Payments without first waiting to determine if the Guarantee Trustee has enforced this Guarantee Agreement or instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee Trustee or any other Person.

    SECTION 5.5.  GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.  This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of collection. This Guarantee Agreement will not be discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Issuer) or upon distribution of Debentures to Holders as provided in the Declaration of Trust.

    SECTION 5.6.  SUBROGATION.  The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to the Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement. If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

    SECTION 5.7.  INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.  The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred

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Securities and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.


ARTICLE 6

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]


ARTICLE 7

TERMINATION

    SECTION 7.1.  TERMINATION.  This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate and be of no further force and effect upon the earliest of (i) the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the Preferred Securities, or (ii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration of Trust upon liquidation of the Issuer. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder must restore payment of any sums paid with respect to Preferred Securities or this Guarantee Agreement.


ARTICLE 8

[INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]


ARTICLE 9

MISCELLANEOUS

    SECTION 9.1.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.  All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities then outstanding. Except in connection with a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under Article 8 of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall not assign its obligations hereunder.

    SECTION 9.2.  AMENDMENTS.  Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights of the Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent of the Holders will be required), this Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders of not less than 662/3% in Liquidation Preference of the Preferred Securities. The provisions of Article 6 of the Declaration of Trust concerning meetings of the Holders shall apply to the giving of such approval. The Guarantor shall furnish the Guarantee Trustee with an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any amendment of this Agreement is authorized and permitted. The Guarantee Trustee shall not be required to enter into any amendment to this Guarantee Agreement which affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Guarantee Agreement.

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    SECTION 9.3.  NOTICES.  Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given hereunder shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail as follows:

    All notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been given when received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

    SECTION 9.4.  BENEFIT.  This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders and is not separately transferable from the Preferred Securities.

    SECTION 9.5.  INTERPRETATION.  In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

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    SECTION 9.6.  GOVERNING LAW.  This Guarantee Agreement shall be governed by and construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the state of New York without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof.

    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.

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    THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above written.

        BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION
                 
        By:  
            Name:    
            Title:    
                 

 

 

 

 

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,
as Guarantee Trustee
                 
        By:  
            Name:    
            Title:    

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QuickLinks

CROSS REFERENCE TABLE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE 2 TRUST INDENTURE ACT
ARTICLE 3 POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
ARTICLE 4 GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
ARTICLE 5 GUARANTEE
ARTICLE 6 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE 7 TERMINATION
ARTICLE 8 [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS
Prepared by MERRILL CORPORATION
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Exhibit 99.10


BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK,

as Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent

and Securities Intermediary

AND

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY,

as Purchase Contract Agent


PLEDGE AGREEMENT


Dated as of December 5, 2001



TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
   

Section 1.1  Definitions

 

2

ARTICLE II
PLEDGE; CONTROL AND PERFECTION

 

 

Section 2.1  The Pledge

 

4
Section 2.2  Control and Perfection   5

ARTICLE III
DISTRIBUTIONS ON PLEDGED COLLATERAL

 

 

ARTICLE IV
SUBSTITUTION, RELEASE, REPLEDGE AND SETTLEMENT OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

 

 

Section 4.1  Substitution for Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration and the Creation of Stripped Units

 

7
Section 4.2  Substitution for Treasury Securities and the Creation of Normal Units   8
Section 4.3  Termination Event   9
Section 4.4  Early Settlement; Merger Early Settlement   9
Section 4.5  Remarketing; Application of Proceeds; Settlement   9

ARTICLE V
VOTING RIGHTS—PREFERRED SECURITIES

 

 

ARTICLE VI
RIGHTS AND REMEDIES; TAX EVENT REDEMPTION; DISTRIBUTION OF THE SENIOR DEBENTURES

 

 

Section 6.1  Rights and Remedies of the Collateral Agent

 

12
Section 6.2  Tax Event Redemption   12
Section 6.3  Distribution of the Senior Debentures   13
Section 6.4  Substitutions   13

ARTICLE VII
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS

 

 

Section 7.1  Representations and Warranties

 

13
Section 7.2  Covenants   14

ARTICLE VIII
THE COLLATERAL AGENT

 

 

Section 8.1  Appointment, Powers and Immunities

 

14
Section 8.2  Instructions of the Company   15
Section 8.3  Reliance by Collateral Agent   15
Section 8.4  Rights in Other Capacities   16
Section 8.5  Non-Reliance on Collateral Agent   16
Section 8.6  Compensation and Indemnity   16
Section 8.7  Failure to Act   16
Section 8.8  Resignation of Collateral Agent   17
Section 8.9  Right to Appoint Agent or Advisor   17
Section 8.10 Survival   18
Section 8.11 Exculpation   18


ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENT

 

 

Section 9.1  Amendment Without Consent of Holders

 

18
Section 9.2  Amendment with Consent of Holders   18
Section 9.3  Execution of Amendments   19
Section 9.4  Effect of Amendments   19
Section 9.5  Reference to Amendments   19

ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

Section 10.1 No Waiver

 

19
Section 10.2 Governing Law   19
Section 10.3 Notices   20
Section 10.4 Successors and Assigns   20
Section 10.5 Counterparts   20
Section 10.6 Severability   20
Section 10.7 Expenses, Etc.   20
Section 10.8 Security Interest Absolute   21
Section 10.9 Waiver of Jury Trial   21

EXHIBITS

 

 

EXHIBIT A Instruction From Purchase Contract Agent to Collateral Agent

 

A-1

EXHIBIT B Instruction to Purchase Contract Agent

 

B-1

EXHIBIT C Instruction to Custodial Agent Regarding Remarketing

 

C-1

EXHIBIT D Instruction to Custodial Agent Regarding Withdrawal From Remarketing

 

D-1


PLEDGE AGREEMENT

    PLEDGE AGREEMENT, dated as of December 5, 2001 (this "Agreement"), among Boise Cascade Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), JPMorgan Chase Bank, a New York banking corporation, not individually but solely as collateral agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Collateral Agent"), as custodial agent (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Custodial Agent") and as "securities intermediary" as defined in Section 8-102(a)(14) of the Code (as defined herein) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Securities Intermediary"), and BNY Western Trust Company, not individually but solely as purchase contract agent and as attorney-in-fact of the Holders (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement as hereinafter defined) from time to time of the Units (as hereinafter defined) (in such capacity, together with its successors in such capacity, the "Purchase Contract Agent") under the Purchase Contract Agreement.


RECITALS

    The Company and the Purchase Contract Agent are parties to the Purchase Contract Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (as modified and supplemented and in effect from time to time, the "Purchase Contract Agreement"), pursuant to which there may be issued up to 3,000,000 Units of the Company (3,450,000 if the Underwriters' over-allotment option pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (as defined in the Declaration) is exercised in full), having a Stated Amount of $50 per Unit, all of which will initially be Normal Units.

    Each Normal Unit will be comprised of (a) a purchase contract (the "Purchase Contract") under which the holder will be required to purchase from the Company, and the Company will be required to sell to such holder, not later than December 16, 2004 (the "Stock Purchase Date"), for $50.00, a number of shares of common stock, $2.50 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company equal to the Settlement Rate (as defined below), and (b) either beneficial ownership of (x) a Preferred Security (as defined below) or (y) following a Tax Event Redemption, or the remarketing of the Preferred Securities in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Remarketing Agreement (as defined below), the appropriate Treasury Consideration (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement).

    In accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement, a holder of Normal Units may separate the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as applicable, from the related Purchase Contracts by substituting for such Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, Treasury Securities (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement) that will pay in the aggregate an amount equal to the aggregate Stated Amount (as defined below) of such Normal Units. Upon such separation, the Normal Units will become Stripped Units. Each Stripped Unit will be comprised of (a) a Purchase Contract under which the holder will purchase from the Company not later than the Stock Purchase Date, for $50.00, a number of shares of Common Stock of the Company equal to the Settlement Rate and (b) a 1/20 undivided beneficial interest in a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury Security (CUSIP No. 912803AB9) maturing on November 15, 2004 that will pay $1,000 on such maturity date (the "Treasury Securities").

    Pursuant to the terms of the Declaration (as defined below), Boise Cascade Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), will issue 3,000,000 (3,450,000 if the Underwriters' over-allotment option pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement is exercised in full) 7.50% Preferred Securities, (the "Preferred Securities") and 7.50% common securities to the Company (the "Common Securities"), in each case having a stated liquidation value equal to the Stated Amount.

    Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement and the Purchase Contracts, the Holders, from time to time, of the Units have irrevocably authorized the Purchase Contract Agent, as attorney-in-fact of such Holders, among other things, to execute and deliver this Agreement on behalf of such Holders and to grant the pledge provided hereby of the Preferred Securities, any Treasury Consideration and any Treasury Securities delivered in exchange therefor to secure each Holder's


obligations under the related Purchase Contract, as provided herein and subject to the terms hereof. Upon such pledge, the Preferred Securities, any Treasury Consideration and the Treasury Securities will be beneficially owned by the Holders but will be owned of record by the Purchase Contract Agent subject to the Pledge hereunder.

    Accordingly, the Company, the Collateral Agent, the Securities Intermediary, the Custodial Agent and the Purchase Contract Agent (on its own behalf and as attorney-in-fact of the Holders from time to time of the Units) agree as follows:


ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

    Section 1.1  Definitions.  For all purposes of this agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

    "Agreement" means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more agreements supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof.

    "Bankruptcy Code" means Title 11 of the United States Code, or any other law of the United States that from time to time provides a uniform system of bankruptcy laws.

    "Business Day" means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or day on which banking institutions and trust companies in The City of New York or at a place of payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

    "Code" has the meaning specified in Section 6.1 hereof.

    "Collateral" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Collateral Account" means the securities account (number 161167) maintained at JPMorgan Chase Bank in the name "BNY Western Trust Company", as Purchase Contract Agent on behalf of the holders of certain securities of Boise Cascade Trust I, Collateral Account subject to the security interest of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent, for the benefit of Boise Cascade Corporation, as pledgee" and any successor account.

2


    "Collateral Agent" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Common Stock" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Agreement until a successor shall have become such, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor.

    "Custodial Agent" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Debenture Trustee" means BNY Western Trust Company, as trustee under the Indenture (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement) until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.

    "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 5, 2001 among the Company, as sponsor, the trustees named therein and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.

    "Intermediary" means any entity that in the ordinary course of its business maintains securities accounts for others and is acting in that capacity.

    "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

    "Pledge" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Pledged Preferred Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Pledged Treasury Consideration" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Pledged Treasury Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Pledged Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 2.1 hereof.

    "Preferred Securities" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Proceeds" means all interest, dividends, cash, instruments, securities, financial assets (as defined in Sections 8-102(a)(9) of the Code) and other property from time to time received, receivable or otherwise distributed upon the sale, exchange, collection or disposition of the Collateral or any proceeds thereof.

    "Purchase Contract" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Purchase Contract Agent" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Purchase Contract Agreement" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Securities Intermediary" has the meaning specified in the first paragraph of this Agreement.

    "Security Entitlement" has the meaning set forth in Section 8-102(a) (17) of the Code.

    "Separate Preferred Securities" means any Preferred Securities that are not Pledged Preferred Securities.

    "Stock Purchase Date" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "TRADES" means the Treasury/Reserve Automated Debt Entry System maintained by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York pursuant to the TRADES Regulations.

    "TRADES Regulations" means the regulations of the United States Department of the Treasury, published at 31 C.F.R. Part 357, as amended from time to time. Unless otherwise defined herein, all terms defined in the TRADES Regulations are used herein as therein defined.

3


    "Transfer" means, with respect to the Collateral and in accordance with the instructions of the Collateral Agent, the Purchase Contract Agent or the Holder, as applicable:

    "Treasury Security" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Trust" has the meaning specified in the Recitals.

    "Units" means the Normal Units and Stripped Units collectively.


ARTICLE II

PLEDGE; CONTROL AND PERFECTION

    Section 2.1  The Pledge.  The Holders from time to time acting through the Purchase Contract Agent, as their attorney-in-fact, and the Purchase Contract Agent, as such attorney-in-fact, hereby pledge and grant to the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, as collateral security for the performance when due by such Holders of their respective obligations under the related Purchase Contracts, a security interest in all of the right, title and interest of the Purchase Contract Agent and such Holders (a) in (i) the Preferred Securities, Treasury Consideration and Treasury Securities constituting a part of the Units, (ii) any Treasury Securities delivered in exchange for any Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as applicable, in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof, and (iii) any Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as applicable, delivered in exchange for any Treasury Securities in accordance with Section 4.2 hereof, in each case that have been Transferred to or otherwise received by the Collateral Agent and not released by the Collateral Agent to such Holders under the provisions of this Agreement; (b) in the Collateral Account and all securities, financial assets, security entitlements, cash and other property credited thereto and all Security Entitlements related thereto; (c) in any Senior Debentures delivered to the Collateral Agent upon the occurrence of a liquidation of the Trust as provided in Section 6.2; (d) in the Treasury Consideration purchased on behalf of the Holders of Normal Units by the Collateral Agent upon the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption as provided in Section 6.2; and (e) all Proceeds of the foregoing (all of the foregoing, collectively, the "Collateral"). Prior to or concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Purchase Contract Agent, on behalf of the initial Holders of the Units, shall cause the Preferred Securities comprising a part of the Normal Units to be Transferred to the Collateral Agent for the benefit of the Company. Such Preferred Securities shall be Transferred by physically delivering such securities to the Securities Intermediary indorsed in blank and causing the Securities Intermediary to credit the Collateral Account with such securities and sending the Collateral Agent a confirmation of the deposit of such securities. Treasury Securities and Treasury Consideration, as applicable, shall be Transferred to the Collateral Account maintained by the Collateral Agent at the Securities Intermediary by book-entry transfer to the Collateral Account in accordance with the TRADES Regulations and other applicable law and by the notation by the Securities Intermediary on its books that a Security

4


Entitlement with respect to such Treasury Securities or Treasury Consideration has been credited to the Collateral Account. For purposes of perfecting the pledge under applicable law, including, to the extent applicable, the TRADES Regulations or the Uniform Commercial Code as adopted and in effect in any applicable jurisdiction, the Collateral Agent shall be the agent of the Company as provided herein. The pledge provided in this Section 2.1 is herein referred to as the "Pledge" and the Preferred Securities (or the Senior Debentures that are delivered pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof), Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities subject to the Pledge, excluding any Preferred Securities (or the Senior Debentures that are delivered pursuant to Section 6.2 hereof), Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities released from the Pledge as provided in Sections 4.1 and 4.2 hereof, respectively, are hereinafter referred to as "Pledged Preferred Securities," "Pledged Treasury Consideration" or the "Pledged Treasury Securities," respectively and collectively the "Pledged Securities." Subject to the Pledge and the provisions of Section 2.2 hereof, the Holders from time to time shall have full beneficial ownership of the Collateral. Whenever directed by the Collateral Agent acting on behalf of the Company, the Securities Intermediary shall have the right to reregister the Preferred Securities or any other securities held in physical form in its name.

    Except as may be required in order to release Preferred Securities (or if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred, the Treasury Consideration) or Treasury Securities, as applicable, in connection with a Holder's election to convert its investment from a Normal Unit to a Stripped Unit, or except as otherwise required to release Preferred Securities as specified herein, neither the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent nor the Securities Intermediary shall relinquish physical possession of any certificate evidencing a Preferred Security (or if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred, the Treasury Consideration) or Treasury Securities prior to the termination of this Agreement. If it becomes necessary for the Securities Intermediary to relinquish physical possession of a certificate in order to release a portion of the Preferred Securities evidenced thereby from the Pledge, the Securities Intermediary shall use its best efforts to obtain physical possession of a replacement certificate evidencing any Preferred Securities remaining subject to the Pledge hereunder registered to it or endorsed in blank within fifteen days of the date it relinquished possession. The Securities Intermediary shall promptly notify the Company and the Collateral Agent of the Securities Intermediary's failure to obtain possession of any such replacement certificate as required hereby.

    Section 2.2  Control and Perfection.  (a) In connection with the Pledge granted in Section 2.1, and subject to the other provisions of this Agreement, the Holders from time to time acting through the Purchase Contract Agent, as their attorney-in-fact, hereby authorize and direct the Securities Intermediary (without the necessity of obtaining the further consent of the Purchase Contract Agent or any of the Holders), and the Securities Intermediary agrees, to comply with and follow any instructions and entitlement orders (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the Code) that the Collateral Agent may deliver pursuant to this Agreement or upon the written direction of the Company with respect to the Collateral Account, the Collateral credited thereto and any Security Entitlements with respect to any thereof. In the event the Securities Intermediary receives from the Holders or the Purchase Contract Agent entitlement orders which conflict with entitlement orders received from the Collateral Agent, the Securities Intermediary shall follow the entitlement orders received from the Collateral Agent. Such instructions and entitlement orders may, without limitation, direct the Securities Intermediary to transfer, redeem, assign, or otherwise deliver the Preferred Securities, the Treasury Consideration, the Treasury Securities, and any Security Entitlements with respect thereto or sell, liquidate or dispose of such assets through a broker designated by the Company, and to pay and deliver any income, proceeds or other funds derived therefrom to the Company. The Holders from time to time acting through the Purchase Contract Agent hereby further authorize and direct the Collateral Agent, as agent of the Company, to, upon written direction of the Company, itself issue instructions and entitlement orders, and to otherwise take action, with respect to the Collateral Account, the Collateral credited thereto and any Security Entitlements with respect thereto, pursuant to the terms and provisions hereof, all without the necessity of obtaining the further consent of the Purchase Contract Agent or any of the

5


Holders. The Collateral Agent shall be the agent of the Company and shall act as directed in writing by the Company. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Collateral Agent shall issue entitlement orders to the Securities Intermediary when and as required by the terms hereof or as directed in writing by the Company.

    (b)  The Securities Intermediary hereby confirms and agrees that: (i) all securities or other property underlying any financial assets credited to the Collateral Account shall be registered in the name of the Securities Intermediary, or its nominee, indorsed to the Securities Intermediary, or its nominee, or in blank or credited to another Collateral Account maintained in the name of the Securities Intermediary and in no case will any financial asset credited to the Collateral Account be registered in the name of the Purchase Contract Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Company or any Holder, payable to the order of, or specially indorsed to, the Purchase Contract Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Company or any Holder except to the extent the foregoing have been specially indorsed to the Securities Intermediary or in blank; (ii) all property delivered to the Securities Intermediary pursuant to this Pledge Agreement (including, without limitation, any Preferred Securities, the Treasury Consideration or Treasury Securities) will be promptly credited to the Collateral Account; (iii) the Collateral Account is an account to which financial assets are or may be credited, and the Securities Intermediary shall, subject to the terms of this Agreement, treat the Purchase Contract Agent as entitled to exercise the rights of any financial asset credited to the Collateral Account; (iv) the Securities Intermediary has not entered into, and until the termination of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement with any other Person relating to the Collateral Account and/or any financial assets credited thereto pursuant to which it has agreed to comply with entitlement orders (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(8) of the Code) of such other Person; and (v) the Securities Intermediary has not entered into, and until the termination of this Agreement will not enter into, any agreement with the Company, the Collateral Agent or the Purchase Contract Agent purporting to limit or condition the obligation of the Securities Intermediary to comply with entitlement orders as set forth in this Section 2.2 hereof.

    (c)  The Securities Intermediary hereby agrees that each item of property (whether investment property, financial asset, security, instrument or cash) credited to the Collateral Account shall be treated as a "financial asset" within the meaning of Section 8-102(a)(9) of the Code.

    (d)  In the event of any conflict between this Agreement (or any portion thereof) and any other agreement now existing or hereafter entered into, the terms of this Agreement shall prevail.

    (e)  The Purchase Contract Agent hereby irrevocably constitutes and appoints the Collateral Agent and the Company, with full power of substitution, as the Purchase Contract Agent's attorney-in-fact to take on behalf of, and in the name, place and stead of, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Holders, any action necessary or desirable to perfect and to keep perfected the security interest in the Collateral referred to in Section 2.1. The grant of such power-of-attorney shall not be deemed to require of the Collateral Agent any specific duties or obligations not otherwise assumed by the Collateral Agent hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the Collateral Agent or Securities Intermediary be responsible for the preparation or filing of any financing or continuation statements in the appropriate jurisdictions or responsible for the maintenance or perfection of any security interest hereunder.


ARTICLE III

DISTRIBUTIONS ON PLEDGED COLLATERAL

    So long as the Purchase Contract Agent is the registered owner of the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, it shall receive all payments thereon. If the Pledged Preferred Securities are reregistered, such that the Collateral Agent becomes the registered holder, all payments of the Stated Amount of or cash distributions on the Pledged Preferred Securities and all payments of

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the principal of, or cash distributions on, any Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, that are received by the Collateral Agent and that are properly payable hereunder shall be paid by the Collateral Agent by wire transfer in same day funds (provided the Collateral Agent has received payment in same day funds):

    All payments received by the Purchase Contract Agent as provided herein shall be applied by the Purchase Contract Agent pursuant to the provisions of the Purchase Contract Agreement. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchase Contract Agent shall receive any payments of the Stated Amount on account of any Preferred Security or principal of any Treasury Consideration, as applicable, that, at the time of such payment, is a Pledged Preferred Security or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, or a Holder of a Stripped Unit shall receive any payments of principal on account of any Treasury Securities that, at the time of such payment, are Pledged Preferred Securities, the Purchase Contract Agent or such Holder shall hold the same as trustee of an express trust for the benefit of the Company (and promptly deliver the same over to the Company) for application to the obligations of the Holders under the related Purchase Contracts, and the Holders shall acquire no right, title or interest in any such payments of Stated Amount or principal so received.


ARTICLE IV

SUBSTITUTION, RELEASE, REPLEDGE AND SETTLEMENT OF PREFERRED SECURITIES

    Section 4.1  Substitution for Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration and the Creation of Stripped Units.  At any time on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date (unless a Tax Event Redemption has occurred), a Holder of Normal Units shall have the right to substitute Treasury Securities for the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, securing such Holder's obligations under the Purchase Contracts comprising a part of such Normal Units, in integral multiples of 20 Normal Units, or after a remarketing of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement, in integral

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multiples of Normal Units such that Treasury Securities to be deposited and the applicable Treasury Consideration to be released are in integral multiples of $1,000, by (a) Transferring to the Collateral Agent Treasury Securities having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of such Normal Units and (b) delivering such Normal Units to the Purchase Contract Agent, accompanied by a notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, to the Purchase Contract Agent stating that such Holder has Transferred Treasury Securities to the Collateral Agent pursuant to clause (a) above (stating the principal amount, the maturities and the CUSIP numbers of the Treasury Securities Transferred by such Holder) and requesting that the Purchase Contract Agent instruct the Collateral Agent to release from the Pledge the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, related to such Normal Units, whereupon the Purchase Contract Agent shall promptly give such instruction to the Collateral Agent in the form provided in Exhibit A; provided, however, that if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred and the Treasury Consideration has become a component of the Normal Units, Holders of Normal Units may make such substitution only in integral multiples of $1,000 at any time on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date. Upon receipt of Treasury Securities from a Holder of Normal Units and the related instruction from the Purchase Contract Agent, the Collateral Agent shall release the Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, and shall promptly Transfer such Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, free and clear of any lien, pledge or security interest created hereby, to the Purchase Contract Agent. All items Transferred and/or substituted by any Holder pursuant to this Section 4.1, Section 4.2 or any other Section of this Agreement shall be Transferred and/or substituted free and clear of all liens, claims and encumbrances.

    Section 4.2  Substitution for Treasury Securities and the Creation of Normal Units.  At any time (i) on or prior to the fifth Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date (unless a Tax Event Redemption has occurred in), a Holder of Stripped Units shall have the right to reestablish Normal Units (a) consisting of the Purchase Contracts and Preferred Securities in integral multiples of 20 Normal Units, or (b) after a remarketing of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement, consisting of the Purchase Contracts and the appropriate Treasury Consideration (identified and calculated by reference to the Treasury Consideration then comprising Normal Units) in integral multiples of Stripped Units such that the Treasury Consideration to be deposited and the Treasury Securities to be released are in integral multiples of $1,000, by (x) Transferring to the Collateral Agent Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, then comprising such number of Normal Units as is equal to such Stripped Units and (y) delivering such Stripped Units to the Purchase Contract Agent, accompanied by a notice, substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto, to the Purchase Contract Agent stating that such Holder has transferred Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration to the Collateral Agent pursuant to clause (a) above and requesting that the Purchase Contract Agent instruct the Collateral Agent to release from the Pledge the Pledged Treasury Securities related to such Stripped Units, whereupon the Purchase Contract Agent shall give such instruction to the Collateral Agent in the form provided in Exhibit A; provided, however, that if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred and the Treasury Consideration has become a component of the Normal Units, Holders of Stripped Units may make such substitution only in integral multiples of 20 Stripped Units, at any time on or prior to the second Business Day immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date; and further provided that Holders of Stripped Units may not reestablish Normal Units during the period beginning on the fourth Business Day prior to any Remarketing Date or Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, and ending at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third Business Day following such dates. Upon receipt of the Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, from such Holder and the instruction from the Purchase Contract Agent, the Collateral Agent shall release the Pledged Treasury Securities and shall promptly Transfer such Treasury Securities, free and clear of any lien, pledge or security interest created hereby, to the Purchase Contract Agent.

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    Section 4.3  Termination Event.  Upon receipt by the Collateral Agent of written notice from the Company or the Purchase Contract Agent that there has occurred a Termination Event, the Collateral Agent shall release all Collateral from the Pledge and shall promptly Transfer any Pledged Preferred Securities (or the applicable interest in the Treasury Consideration if a Tax Event Redemption has occurred) and Pledged Treasury Securities to the Purchase Contract Agent for the benefit of the Holders of the Normal Units and the Stripped Units, respectively, free and clear of any lien, pledge or security interest or other interest created hereby.

    If such Termination Event shall result from the Company's becoming a debtor under the Bankruptcy Code, and if the Collateral Agent shall for any reason fail promptly to effectuate the release and Transfer of all Pledged Preferred Securities, Pledged Treasury Consideration or of the Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, as provided by this Section 4.3, the Purchase Contract Agent shall (i) use its best efforts to obtain an opinion of a nationally recognized law firm reasonably acceptable to the Collateral Agent to the effect that, as a result of the Company's being the debtor in such a bankruptcy case, the Collateral Agent will not be prohibited from releasing or Transferring the Collateral as provided in this Section 4.3, and shall deliver such opinion to the Collateral Agent within ten days after the occurrence of such Termination Event, and if (y) the Purchase Contract Agent shall be unable to obtain such opinion within ten days after the occurrence of such Termination Event or (z) the Collateral Agent shall continue, after delivery of such opinion, to refuse to effectuate the release and Transfer of all Pledged Preferred Securities, Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, as provided in this Section 4.3, then the Purchase Contract Agent shall within fifteen days after the occurrence of such Termination Event commence an action or proceeding in the court with jurisdiction of the Company's case under the Bankruptcy Code seeking an order requiring the Collateral Agent to effectuate the release and transfer of all Pledged Preferred Securities, Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, as provided by this Section 4.3 or (ii) commence an action or proceeding like that described in subsection (i)(z) hereof within ten days after the occurrence of such Termination Event.

    Section 4.4  Early Settlement; Merger Early Settlement.  Upon written notice to the Collateral Agent by the Purchase Contract Agent that one or more Holders of Units have elected to effect Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement of their respective obligations under the Purchase Contracts forming a part of such Units in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contracts and the Purchase Contract Agreement (setting forth the number of such Purchase Contracts as to which such Holders have elected to effect Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement), and that the Purchase Contract Agent has received from such Holders, and paid to the Company as confirmed in writing by the Company, the related Early Settlement Amounts or Merger Early Settlement Amounts, as the case may be, pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Contracts and the Purchase Contract Agreement and that all conditions to such Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, as the case may be, have been satisfied, then the Collateral Agent shall release from the Pledge, (a) Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, in the case of a Holder of Normal Units or (b) Pledged Treasury Securities, in the case of a Holder of Stripped Units, relating to such Purchase Contracts as to which such Holders have elected to effect Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement, and shall Transfer all such Pledged Preferred Securities, Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, as the case may be, free and clear of the Pledge created hereby, to the Purchase Contract Agent for the benefit of the Holders.

    Section 4.5  Remarketing; Application of Proceeds; Settlement.  (a) Pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Purchase Contract Agent shall notify, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the fourth Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004 or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, the Remarketing Agent and the Collateral Agent of the aggregate number of Preferred Securities comprising part of Normal Units to be remarketed. The Collateral Agent shall, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the fourth Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004

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or any Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, without any instruction from Holders of Normal Units, deliver (i) the Pledged Preferred Securities to be remarketed to the Remarketing Agent for remarketing and (ii) the remaining Pledged Preferred Securities to the Purchase Contract Agent for distribution to the Holders that have elected not to participate in the remarketing in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement. On or prior to the third Business Day following the Remarketing Date or Subsequent Remarketing Date, as the case may be, the Remarketing Agent will deliver the Agent-purchased Treasury Consideration (as defined in the Purchase Contract Agreement) purchased from the proceeds of the remarketing to the Purchase Contract Agent, which shall thereupon deliver such Agent-purchased Treasury Consideration to the Collateral Agent. Upon receipt of the Agent-purchased Treasury Consideration from the Purchase Contract Agent following a successful remarketing, the Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, shall thereupon apply such Treasury Consideration to secure such Holders' obligations under the Purchase Contracts. On the Stock Purchase Date, the Collateral Agent shall apply that portion of the payments received in respect of the Pledged Treasury Consideration equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of the related Normal Units to satisfy in full the obligations of such Holders of Normal Units to pay the Purchase Price under the related Purchase Contracts. The remaining portion of such Proceeds, if any, shall be distributed by the Collateral Agent to the Purchase Contract Agent for payment to such Holders.

    Within three Business Days following a Failed Remarketing, the Preferred Securities delivered to the Remarketing Agent and the Purchase Contract Agent pursuant to Section 4.5(a) shall be returned to the Collateral Agent, together with written notice from the Remarketing Agent of the Failed Remarketing. The Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company, shall thereupon apply such Preferred Securities to secure the Normal Units Holders' obligations under the Purchase Contracts. If the Remarketing Agent cannot remarket the Preferred Securities on the Remarketing Date, the Remarketing Agent shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to attempt to remarket Preferred Securities on each of the two Business Days immediately following the Remarketing Date and, if necessary, on each of the three Business Days immediately preceding November 1, 2004, and if necessary, on each of the three Business Days immediately preceding the Stock Purchase Date in accordance with the remarketing procedures described in Section 5.2(b) of the Purchase Contract Agreement and this Pledge Agreement. If by the Stock Purchase Date the Remarketing Agent has failed to remarket the Preferred Securities at 100.5% of the Remarketing Value (as described in the Purchase Contract Agreement), the Remarketing Agent shall advise the Collateral Agent in writing that it cannot remarket the related Pledged Preferred Securities of such Holders of Normal Units. The Collateral Agent, for the benefit of the Company will, at the written direction of the Company, retain or dispose of the Pledged Preferred Securities in accordance with applicable law and satisfy in full, from any such disposition or retention, such Holders' obligations to pay the Purchase Price for the Common Stock; provided, that if upon a Failed Remarketing, the Collateral Agent exercises such rights for the benefit of the Company with respect to such Pledged Preferred Securities, any accumulated and unpaid distributions on such Pledged Preferred Securities will become payable by the Company to the Purchase Contract Agent for payment to the Holder of the Normal Units to which such Pledged Preferred Securities relates in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement.

    (b) In the event a Holder of Stripped Units (if a Tax Event Redemption has not occurred) has not made an Early Settlement or Merger Early Settlement of the Purchase Contracts underlying its Stripped Units, such Holder shall be deemed to have elected to pay for the shares of Common Stock to be issued under such Purchase Contracts from the payments received in respect of the related Pledged Treasury Securities. Without receiving any instruction from any such Holder of Stripped Units, the Collateral Agent shall apply such payments to the settlement of such Purchase Contracts on the Stock Purchase Date. In the event the payments received in respect of the related Pledged Treasury Securities are in excess of the aggregate Purchase Price of the Purchase Contracts being settled thereby, the Collateral Agent shall distribute such excess, when received, to the Purchase Contract Agent for the benefit of the Holders.

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    (c) Pursuant to the Remarketing Agreement, on or prior to the fifth Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004, but no earlier than the Payment Date immediately preceding September 16, 2004, holders of Separate Preferred Securities may elect to have their Separate Preferred Securities remarketed by delivering their Separate Preferred Securities, together with a notice of such election, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto, to the Custodial Agent. On the fourth Business Day prior to September 16, 2004, by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, the Custodial Agent shall notify the Remarketing Agent of the number of such Separate Preferred Securities to be remarketed. The Custodial Agent will hold such Separate Preferred Securities in an account separate from the Collateral Account. A holder of Separate Preferred Securities electing to have its Separate Preferred Securities remarketed will also have the right to withdraw such election by written notice to the Custodial Agent, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto, no later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the fifth Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004, and any Subsequent Remarketing Date, upon which notice the Custodial Agent will return such Separate Preferred Securities to such holder. No later than 10:00 a.m., New York City, time on the fourth Business Day immediately preceding September 16, 2004, and any Subsequent Remarketing Date, the Custodial Agent will deliver to the Remarketing Agent for remarketing all Separate Preferred Securities delivered to the Custodial Agent pursuant to this Section 4.5(c) and not withdrawn pursuant to the terms hereof prior to such date. The portion of the proceeds from such remarketing equal to the amount calculated in respect of such Separate Preferred Securities as set forth in Section 5.2(b) of the Purchase Contract Agreement will automatically be remitted by the Remarketing Agent to the Custodial Agent for the benefit of the holders of such Separate Preferred Securities. In addition, after deducting as the remarketing fee an amount not exceeding 25 basis points (.25%) of the total proceeds of such remarketing, the Remarketing Agent will remit to the Custodial Agent the remaining portion of the proceeds, if any, for the benefit of such holders. If, despite using its reasonable best efforts, the Remarketing Agent advises the Custodial Agent in writing that there has been a Failed Remarketing, the Remarketing Agent will promptly return such Preferred Securities to the Custodial Agent for redelivery to such holders. In the event of a dissolution of the Trust and the distribution of the Senior Debentures as described in the Declaration, all references to "Separate Preferred Securities" in this Section 4.5(c) shall be deemed to be references to Senior Debentures which are not pledged hereunder or required to be part of the Collateral.


ARTICLE V

VOTING RIGHTS—PREFERRED SECURITIES

    The Purchase Contract Agent may exercise, or refrain from exercising, any and all voting and other consensual rights pertaining to the Pledged Preferred Securities or any part thereof for any purpose not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement and in accordance with the terms of the Purchase Contract Agreement; provided, that the Purchase Contract Agent shall not exercise or, as the case may be, shall not refrain from exercising such right if the Company notifies the Purchase Contract Agent in writing that in its judgment such action would impair or otherwise have a material adverse effect on the value of all or any of the Pledged Preferred Securities; and provided, further, that the Purchase Contract Agent shall give the Company and the Collateral Agent at least five days' prior written notice of the manner in which it intends to exercise, or its reasons for refraining from exercising, any such right. Upon receipt of any notices and other communications in respect of any Pledged Preferred Securities, including notice of any meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or solicitation of consents, waivers or proxies of holders of Preferred Securities, the Collateral Agent shall use reasonable efforts to send promptly to the Purchase Contract Agent such notice or communication, and as soon as reasonably practicable after receipt of a written request therefor from the Purchase Contract Agent, execute and deliver to the Purchase Contract Agent such proxies and other instruments in respect of such Pledged Preferred Securities (in form and substance

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satisfactory to the Collateral Agent) as are prepared by the Purchase Contract Agent with respect to the Pledged Preferred Securities.


ARTICLE VI

RIGHTS AND REMEDIES; TAX EVENT REDEMPTION; DISTRIBUTION OF THE SENIOR DEBENTURES

    Section 6.1  Rights and Remedies of the Collateral Agent.  (a) In addition to the rights and remedies available at law or in equity, after an event of default under the Purchase Contract, the Collateral Agent shall have all of the rights and remedies with respect to the Collateral of a secured party under the Uniform Commercial Code (or any successor thereto) as in effect in the State of New York from time to time (the "Code") (whether or not the Code is in effect in the jurisdiction where the rights and remedies are asserted) and the TRADES Regulations and such additional rights and remedies to which a secured party is entitled under the laws in effect in any jurisdiction where any rights and remedies hereunder may be asserted. Wherever reference is made in this Agreement to any section of the Code, such reference shall be deemed to include a reference to any provision of the Code which is a successor to, or amendment of, such section. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, such remedies may include, to the extent permitted by applicable law, (i) retention of the Pledged Preferred Securities or other Collateral in full satisfaction of the Holders' obligations under the Purchase Contracts or (ii) sale of the Pledged Preferred Securities or other Collateral in one or more public or private sales at the written direction of the Company.

    (b) Without limiting any rights or powers otherwise granted by this Agreement to the Collateral Agent, in the event the Collateral Agent is unable to make payments to the Company on account of any Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities as provided in Article III hereof in satisfaction of the obligations of the Holder of the Units of which such Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, as applicable, is a part under the related Purchase Contracts, the inability to make such payments shall constitute an event of default hereunder and the Collateral Agent shall have and may exercise, with reference to such Pledged Treasury Securities or such Pledged Treasury Consideration, as applicable, and such obligations of such Holder, any and all of the rights and remedies available to a secured party under the Code and the TRADES Regulations after default by a debtor, and as otherwise granted herein or under any other law.

    (c) Without limiting any rights or powers otherwise granted by this Agreement to the Collateral Agent, the Collateral Agent is hereby irrevocably authorized to receive and collect all payments of (i) the Stated Amount of or, cash distributions on, the Pledged Preferred Securities, or (ii) the principal amount of the Pledged Treasury Consideration or Pledged Treasury Securities, subject, in each case, to the provisions of Article III, and as otherwise granted herein.

    (d) The Purchase Contract Agent, individually and as attorney-in-fact for each Holder of Units, agrees that, from time to time, upon the written request of the Company or the Collateral Agent (acting upon the written request of the Company), the Purchase Contract Agent or such Holder shall execute and deliver such further documents and do such other acts and things as the Company or the Collateral Agent (acting upon the written request of the Company) may reasonably request in order to maintain the Pledge, and the perfection and priority thereof, and to confirm the rights of the Collateral Agent hereunder. The Purchase Contract Agent shall have no liability to any Holder for executing any documents or taking any such acts requested by the Company or the Collateral Agent (acting upon the written request of the Company) hereunder, except for liability for its own negligent act, its own negligent failure to act, its bad faith or its own willful misconduct.

    Section 6.2  Tax Event Redemption.  Upon the occurrence of a Tax Event Redemption prior to (i) a successful remarketing of the Preferred Securities pursuant to the Remarketing Agreement or (ii) the Stock Purchase Date, the Collateral Agent will, upon the written instruction of the Company

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and the Purchase Contract Agent, deliver the Pledged Preferred Securities to the Property Trustee on behalf of the Purchase Contract Agent for payment of the Redemption Amount. The Collateral Agent shall, or in the event the Pledged Preferred Securities are registered in the name of the Purchase Contract Agent, the Purchase Contract Agent shall, direct the Property Trustee to pay the Redemption Amount therefor payable on the Redemption Date on or prior to 12:30 p.m., New York City time, such Redemption Amount to be paid by check or wire transfer in immediately available funds at such place and at such account as may be designated by the Collateral Agent. In the event the Collateral Agent receives such Redemption Amount, the Collateral Agent will, at the written direction of the Company, apply the Redemption Amount to purchase, from or at the direction of the Quotation Agent, the Redemption Treasury Portfolio and promptly remit the remaining portion of such Redemption Amount to the Purchase Contract Agent for payment to the Holders of Normal Units. The Collateral Agent shall Transfer the Redemption Treasury Portfolio to the Collateral Account in the manner specified herein for Pledged Preferred Securities to secure the obligation of all Holders of Normal Units to purchase Common Stock of the Company under the Purchase Contracts constituting a part of such Normal Units, in substitution for the Pledged Preferred Securities. Thereafter, the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests, rights and obligations with respect to the Treasury Consideration as it had in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities, as provided in Articles II, III, IV, V and VI and any reference herein to the Pledged Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be a reference to such Treasury Consideration.

    Section 6.3  Distribution of the Senior Debentures.  Upon the occurrence of a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, a principal amount of the Senior Debentures constituting the assets of the Trust and underlying the Preferred Securities equal to the aggregate Stated Amount of the Pledged Preferred Securities shall be delivered to the Collateral Agent in exchange for the Pledged Preferred Securities. In the event the Collateral Agent receives such Senior Debentures in respect of Pledged Preferred Securities upon the occurrence of a voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Trust, the Collateral Agent shall Transfer such Senior Debentures to the Collateral Account in the manner specified herein (including, without limitation, physical delivery thereof as set forth in Section 2.1) for Pledged Preferred Securities to secure the obligations of the Holders of Normal Units to purchase the Company's Common Stock under the related Purchase Contracts. Thereafter, the Collateral Agent shall have such security interests, rights and obligations with respect to such Senior Debentures as it had in respect of the Pledged Preferred Securities as provided in Articles II, III, IV, V and VI hereof, and any reference herein to the Preferred Securities or Pledged Preferred Securities shall be deemed to be referring to such Senior Debentures.

    Section 6.4  Substitutions.  Whenever a Holder has the right to substitute Treasury Securities, Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, for Collateral held by the Collateral Agent, such substitution shall not constitute a novation of the security interest created hereby.


ARTICLE VII

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS

    Section 7.1  Representations and Warranties.  The Holders from time to time, acting through the Purchase Contract Agent as their attorney-in-fact (it being understood that the Purchase Contract Agent shall not be liable for any representation or warranty made by or on behalf of a Holder), hereby represent and warrant to the Collateral Agent, which representations and warranties shall be deemed repeated on each day a Holder Transfers Collateral, that:

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    Section 7.2  Covenants.  The Holders from time to time, acting through the Purchase Contract Agent as their attorney-in-fact (it being understood that the Purchase Contract Agent shall not be liable for any covenant made by or on behalf of a Holder), hereby covenant to the Collateral Agent that for so long as the Collateral remains subject to the Pledge:


ARTICLE VIII

THE COLLATERAL AGENT

    Section 8.1  Appointment, Powers and Immunities.  The Collateral Agent shall act as Agent for the Company hereunder with such powers as are specifically vested in the Collateral Agent by the terms of this Agreement, together with such other powers as are reasonably incidental thereto. Each of the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary: (a) shall have no duties or responsibilities except those expressly set forth in this Agreement and no implied covenants or obligations shall be inferred from this Agreement against any of them, nor shall any of them be bound by the provisions of any agreement by any party hereto beyond the specific terms hereof; (b) shall not be responsible for any recitals contained in this Agreement, or in any certificate or other document referred to or provided for in, or received by it under, this Agreement, the Units or the Purchase Contract Agreement, or for the value, validity, effectiveness, genuineness, enforceability or sufficiency of this Agreement (other than as against the Collateral Agent), the Units or the Purchase Contract Agreement or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or for any failure by the Company or any other Person (except the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, as the case may be) to perform any of its obligations hereunder or thereunder or for the perfection, priority or, except as expressly required hereby, existence, validity, perfection or maintenance of any security interest created hereunder; (c) shall not be required to initiate or conduct any litigation or collection proceedings hereunder (except in the case of the Collateral Agent, pursuant to directions furnished under Section 8.2 hereof, subject to Section 8.6 hereof); (d) shall not be responsible for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it hereunder or under any other document or instrument referred to or provided for herein or in connection herewith or therewith, except for its

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own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct; and (e) shall not be required to advise any party as to selling or retaining, or taking or refraining from taking any action with respect to, the Units or other property deposited hereunder. Subject to the foregoing, during the term of this Agreement, the Collateral Agent shall take all reasonable action in connection with the safekeeping and preservation of the Collateral hereunder.

    No provision of this Agreement shall require the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder. In no event shall the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary be liable for any amount in excess of the value of the Collateral or for any special, indirect, individual or consequential damages or lost profits or loss of business, arising in connection with this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Purchase Contract Agent and Securities Intermediary, each in its individual capacity, hereby waive any right of setoff, bankers lien, liens or perfection rights as securities intermediary or any counterclaim with respect to any of the Collateral.

    None of the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary shall have any liability whatsoever for the action or inaction of any book-entry system or any clearing corporation. In no event shall any book-entry system or any clearing corporation be deemed an agent or subcustodian of the Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent and Securities Intermediary. The Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Agreement arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fires; floods; wars; civil or military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communications service; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority; governmental actions; or inability to obtain labor, material, equipment or transportation.

    Section 8.2  Instructions of the Company.  The Company shall have the right, by one or more instruments in writing executed and delivered to the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for the realization of any right or remedy available to the Collateral Agent, or of exercising any power conferred on the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, or to direct the taking or refraining from taking of any action authorized by this Agreement; provided, however, that (i) such direction shall not conflict with the provisions of any law or of this Agreement and (ii) the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary shall receive indemnity satisfactory to it as provided herein. Nothing in this Section 8.2 shall impair the right of the Collateral Agent in its discretion to take any action or omit to take any action which it deems proper and which is not inconsistent with such direction.

    Section 8.3  Reliance by Collateral Agent.  Each of the Securities Intermediary, the Custodial Agent and the Collateral Agent shall be entitled conclusively to rely upon any certification, order, judgment, opinion, notice or other communication (including, without limitation, any thereof by telephone or facsimile) reasonably believed by it to be genuine and correct and to have been signed or sent by or on behalf of the proper Person or Persons (without being required to determine the correctness of any fact stated therein), and upon advice and statements of legal counsel and other experts selected by the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, as the case may be. As to any matters not expressly provided for by this Agreement, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary shall in all cases be fully protected in acting, or in refraining from acting, hereunder in accordance with instructions given by the Company in accordance with this Agreement.

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    Section 8.4  Rights in Other Capacities.  The Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary and their affiliates may (without having to account therefor to the Company) accept deposits from, lend money to, make their investments in and generally engage in any kind of banking, trust or other business with the Purchase Contract Agent, any Holder of Units and any holder of Separate Preferred Securities (and any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates) as if it were not acting as the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, as the case may be, and the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary and their affiliates may accept fees and other consideration from the Purchase Contract Agent, any Holder of Units or any holder of Separate Preferred Securities without having to account for the same to the Company; provided that each of the Securities Intermediary, the Custodial Agent and the Collateral Agent covenants and agrees with the Company that it shall not accept, receive or permit there to be created in favor of itself (and waives any right of set-off or banker's lien with respect to) and shall take no affirmative action to permit there to be created in favor of any other Person, any security interest, lien or other encumbrance of any kind in or upon the Collateral and the Collateral shall not be commingled with any other assets of any such Person.

    Section 8.5  Non-Reliance on Collateral Agent.  None of the Securities Intermediary, the Custodial Agent or the Collateral Agent shall be required to keep itself informed as to the performance or observance by the Purchase Contract Agent or any Holder of Units of this Agreement, the Purchase Contract Agreement, the Units or any other document referred to or provided for herein or therein or to inspect the properties or books of the Purchase Contract Agent or any Holder of Units. The Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary shall not have any duty or responsibility to provide the Company or the Remarketing Agent with any credit or other information concerning the affairs, financial condition or business of the Purchase Contract Agent, any Holder of Units or any holder of Separate Preferred Securities (or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates) that may come into the possession of the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary or any of their respective affiliates.

    Section 8.6  Compensation and Indemnity.  The Company agrees: (i) to pay each of the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, for all services rendered by each of them hereunder and (ii) to indemnify the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary for, and to hold each of them harmless from and against, any loss, liability or reasonable out-of-pocket expense incurred without gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its powers and duties under this Agreement, including the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of such powers and duties or collecting such amounts. The Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary shall each promptly notify the Company of any third party claim which may give rise to the indemnity hereunder and give the Company the opportunity to participate in the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and no such claim shall be settled without the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

    Section 8.7  Failure to Act.  In the event of any ambiguity in the provisions of this Agreement or any dispute between or conflicting claims by or among the parties hereto or any other Person with respect to any funds or property deposited hereunder, the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent shall be entitled, after prompt notice to the Company and the Purchase Contract Agent, at its sole option, to refuse to comply with any and all claims, demands or instructions with respect to such property or funds so long as such dispute or conflict shall continue, and neither the Collateral Agent nor the Custodial Agent shall be or become liable in any way to any of the parties hereto for its failure or refusal to comply with such conflicting claims, demands or instructions. The Collateral Agent and

16


the Custodial Agent shall be entitled to refuse to act until either (i) such conflicting or adverse claims or demands shall have been finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction or settled by agreement between the conflicting parties as evidenced in a writing, satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, or (ii) the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, shall have received security or an indemnity satisfactory to the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, sufficient to save the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, harmless from and against any and all loss, liability or reasonable out-of-pocket expense which the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, may incur by reason of its acting without bad faith, willful misconduct or gross negligence. The Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent may in addition elect to commence an interpleader action or seek other judicial relief or orders as the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent, as the case may be, may deem necessary. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, neither the Collateral Agent nor the Custodial Agent shall be required to take any action that is in its opinion contrary to law or to the terms of this Agreement, or which would in its opinion subject it or any of its officers, employees or directors to liability.

    Section 8.8  Resignation of Collateral Agent.  Subject to the appointment and acceptance of a successor Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent as provided below, (a) the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent may resign at any time by giving notice thereof to the Company and the Purchase Contract Agent as attorney-in-fact for the Holders of Units, (b) the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent may be removed at any time for any reason by the Company and (c) if the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent fails to perform any of its material obligations hereunder in any material respect for a period of not less than 20 days after receiving written notice of such failure by the Purchase Contract Agent and such failure shall be continuing, the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent may be removed by the Purchase Contract Agent. The Purchase Contract Agent shall promptly notify the Company of any removal of the Collateral Agent pursuant to clause (c) of the immediately preceding sentence. Upon any such resignation or removal, the Company shall have the right to appoint a successor Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be. If no successor Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted such appointment within 30 days after the retiring Collateral Agent's or Custodial Agent's giving of notice of resignation or such removal, then the retiring Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, may at the Company's expense petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be. Each of the Collateral Agent and the Custodial Agent shall be a bank which has an office in New York, New York with a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. Upon the acceptance of any appointment as Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, hereunder by a successor Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, such successor shall thereupon succeed to and become vested with all the rights, powers, privileges and duties of the retiring Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, and the retiring Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, as the case may be, shall take all appropriate action to transfer any money and property held by it hereunder (including the Collateral) to such successor. The retiring Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent shall, upon such succession, be discharged from its duties and obligations as Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent hereunder. After any retiring Collateral Agent's or Custodial Agent's resignation hereunder as Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent, the provisions of this Section 8.8 shall continue in effect for its benefit in respect of any actions taken or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as the Collateral Agent or Custodial Agent. Any resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent hereunder shall be deemed for all purposes of this Agreement as the simultaneous resignation or removal of the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary.

    Section 8.9  Right to Appoint Agent or Advisor.  The Collateral Agent shall have the right to appoint agents or advisors in connection with any of its duties hereunder, and the Collateral Agent shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by, or in reliance upon the advice of, such agents or

17


advisors selected in good faith. The appointment of agents (other than legal counsel) pursuant to this Section 8.9 shall be subject to prior consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

    Section 8.10  Survival.  The provisions of this Article VIII shall survive termination of this Agreement and the resignation or removal of the Collateral Agent or the Custodial Agent.

    Section 8.11  Exculpation.  Anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, in no event shall any of the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary or their officers, employees or agents be liable under this Agreement to any third party for indirect, special, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever, including lost profits, whether or not the likelihood of such loss or damage was known to the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary, or any of them, incurred without any act or deed that is found to be attributable to gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent or the Securities Intermediary.


ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT

    Section 9.1  Amendment Without Consent of Holders.  Without the consent of any Holders or the holders of any Separate Preferred Securities, the Company, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Purchase Contract Agent, at any time and from time to time, may amend this Agreement, in form satisfactory to the Company, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Purchase Contract Agent, for any of the following purposes:

    Section 9.2  Amendment with Consent of Holders.  With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the Units at the time outstanding, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company, the Purchase Contract Agent or the Collateral Agent, as the case may be, the Company, when duly authorized, the Purchase Contract Agent, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Securities Intermediary may amend this Agreement for the purpose of modifying in any manner the provisions of this Agreement or the rights of the Holders in respect of the Units; provided, however, that no such supplemental agreement shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Unit adversely affected thereby, (a) change the amount or type of Collateral underlying a Unit (except for the rights of holders of Normal Units to substitute the Treasury Securities for the Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration, as the case may be, or the rights of Holders of Stripped Units to substitute Preferred Securities or the appropriate Treasury Consideration, as applicable, for the Pledged Treasury Securities), impair the right of the Holder of any Unit to receive distributions on the underlying Collateral or otherwise adversely affect the Holder's rights in or to such Collateral; or

18


(b) otherwise effect any action that would require the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Unit affected thereby pursuant to the Purchase Contract Agreement if such action were effected by an agreement supplemental thereto; or (c) reduce the percentage of Purchase Contracts the consent of whose Holders is required for any such amendment.

    It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

    Section 9.3  Execution of Amendments.  In executing any amendment permitted by this Article IX, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Purchase Contract Agent shall receive and (subject to Section 6.1 hereof, with respect to the Collateral Agent, and Section 7.1 of the Purchase Contract Agreement, with respect to the Purchase Contract Agent) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Agreement and that all conditions precedent, if any, to the execution and delivery of such amendment have been satisfied and, in the case of an amendment pursuant to Section 9.1, that such amendment does not adversely affect the validity, perfection or priority of the security interests granted or created hereunder.

    Section 9.4  Effect of Amendments.  Upon the execution of any amendment under this Article IX, this Agreement shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such amendment shall form a part of this Agreement for all purposes; and every Holder of Units theretofore or thereafter authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered under the Purchase Contract Agreement shall be bound thereby.

    Section 9.5  Reference to Amendments.  Unit certificates authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered after the execution of any amendment pursuant to this Section may, and shall if required by the Collateral Agent or the Purchase Contract Agent, bear a notation in form approved by the Purchase Contract Agent and the Collateral Agent as to any matter provided for in such amendment. If the Company shall so determine, new Unit certificates so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Collateral Agent, the Purchase Contract Agent and the Company, to any such amendment may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated, executed on behalf of the Holders and delivered by the Purchase Contract Agent in accordance with the Purchase Contract Agreement in exchange for outstanding Unit certificates.


ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

    Section 10.1  No Waiver.  No failure on the part of any party hereto or any of its agents to exercise, and no course of dealing with respect to, and no delay in exercising, any right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof; nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party hereto or any of its agents of any right, power or remedy hereunder preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or remedy. The remedies herein are cumulative and are not exclusive of any remedies provided by law.

    Section 10.2  Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. Without limiting the foregoing, the above choice of law is expressly agreed to by the Securities Intermediary, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent and the Holders from time to time acting through the Purchase Contract Agent, as their attorney-in-fact, in connection with the establishment and maintenance of the Collateral Account, which law, for purposes of the Code, shall be deemed to be the law governing all security entitlements related thereto. In addition, such parties agree that, for purposes of the Code, New York shall be the Securities Intermediary's jurisdiction. The Company, the Collateral Agent and the Holders

19


from time to time of the Units, acting through the Purchase Contract Agent as their attorney-in-fact, hereby submit to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and of any New York state court sitting in New York City for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. The Company, the Collateral Agent and the Holders from time to time of the Units, acting through the Purchase Contract Agent as their attorney-in-fact, irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any objection which they may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

    Section 10.3  Notices.  Unless otherwise stated herein, all notices, requests, consents and other communications provided for herein (including, without limitation, any modifications of, or waivers or consents under, this Agreement) shall be given or made in writing (including, without limitation, by telecopy) delivered to the intended recipient at the "Address for Notices" specified below its name on the signature pages hereof or, as to any party, at such other address as shall be designated by such party in a notice to the other parties. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, all such communications shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally delivered or, in the case of a mailed notice or notice transmitted by telecopier, upon receipt, in each case given or addressed as aforesaid.

    Section 10.4  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and assigns of the Company, the Collateral Agent, the Custodial Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Purchase Contract Agent, and the Holders from time to time of the Units, by their acceptance of the same, shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by the provisions hereof and to have ratified the agreements of, and the grant of the Pledge hereunder by, the Purchase Contract Agent.

    Section 10.5  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument, and any of the parties hereto may execute this Agreement by signing any such counterpart.

    Section 10.6  Severability.  If any provision hereof is invalid and unenforceable in any jurisdiction, then, to the fullest extent permitted by law, (i) the other provisions hereof shall remain in full force and effect in such jurisdiction and shall be liberally construed in order to carry out the intentions of the parties hereto as nearly as may be possible and (ii) the invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of such provision in any other jurisdiction.

    Section 10.7  Expenses, Etc.  The Company agrees to reimburse the Collateral Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Custodial Agent for:(a) all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent, the Securities Intermediary and the Custodial Agent (including, without limitation, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel to the Collateral Agent and the Securities Intermediary and the Custodial Agent), in connection with (i) the negotiation, preparation, execution and delivery or performance of this Agreement and (ii) any modification, supplement or waiver of any of the terms of this Agreement; (b) all reasonable costs and expenses of the Collateral Agent (including, without limitation, reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) in connection with (i) any enforcement or proceedings resulting or incurred in connection with causing any Holder of Units to satisfy its obligations under the Purchase Contracts forming a part of the Units, and (ii) the enforcement of this Section 10.7; and (c) all transfer, stamp, documentary or other similar taxes, assessments or charges levied by any governmental or revenue authority in respect of this Agreement or any other document referred to herein and all costs, expenses, taxes, assessments and other charges incurred in connection with any filing, registration, recording or perfection of any security interest contemplated hereby.

20


    Section 10.8  Security Interest Absolute.  All rights of the Collateral Agent and security interests hereunder, and all obligations of the Holders from time to time hereunder, shall be absolute and unconditional irrespective of:

    Section 10.9  Waiver of Jury Trial.  EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES, AND THEREFORE IT HEREBY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

[* * * SIGNATURES TO FOLLOW * * *]

21


    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.

    BOISE CASCADE CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 



 

 

Name:

 



 

 

Title:

 



 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

Boise Cascade Corporation
1111 West Jefferson Street
Boise, Idaho 83728-0001
Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Telecopy: (208) 384-6161

 

 

BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY, as
Purchase Contract Agent and as attorney-in-fact of the
Holders from time to time of the Units

 

 

By:

 



 

 

Name:

 



 

 

Title:

 



 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

601 Union Street
Suite 1720
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention: Corporate Trust
Telecopy: (206) 667-8905

 

 

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, as Collateral
Agent, Custodial Agent and as Securities Intermediary

 

 

By:

 



 

 

Name:

 



 

 

Title:

 



 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Institutional Trust Services
Telecopy: (212) 946-8154

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EXHIBIT A
INSTRUCTION FROM PURCHASE CONTRACT
AGENT TO COLLATERAL AGENT

JPMorgan Chase Bank
as Collateral Agent
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Institutional Trust Services

    Re:   7.50% Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Units of Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company"), and Boise Cascade Trust I

    We hereby notify you in accordance with Section [4.1] [4.2] of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001, (the "Pledge Agreement") among the Company, yourselves, as Collateral Agent, Custodial Agent and Securities Intermediary and ourselves, as Purchase Contract Agent and as attorney-in-fact for the holders of [Normal Units] [Stripped Units] from time to time, that the holder of Units listed below (the "Holder") has elected to substitute [$      aggregate principal amount of Treasury Securities (CUSIP No.       )] [$      stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities or $      principal amount of Treasury Consideration (CUSIP No.       )] in exchange for the related [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration] [Pledged Treasury Securities] held by you in accordance with the Pledge Agreement and has delivered to us a notice stating that the Holder has Transferred [Treasury Securities] [Preferred Securities or the Treasury Consideration] to you, as Collateral Agent. We hereby instruct you, upon receipt of such [Pledged Treasury Securities] [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration], to release the [Preferred Securities or the Treasury Consideration] [Treasury Securities] related to such [Normal Units] [Stripped Units] to us in accordance with the Holder's instructions. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

Date:  
      BNY WESTERN TRUST COMPANY
                 
            By:  
            Name:  
            Title:  

Please print name and address of Registered Holder electing to substitute [Treasury Securities] [Preferred Securities or Treasury Consideration] for the [Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration] [Pledged Treasury Securities]:

Name:  

Address:

 



 

 


Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any:                                                                           

A–1



EXHIBIT B
INSTRUCTION TO PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT

BNY Western Trust Company
601 Union Street
Suite 1720
Seattle, Washington 98101
Attention: Corporate Trust

    Re: 7.50% Adjustable Conversion-rate Equity Security Units of Boise Cascade Corporation (the "Company"), and Boise Cascade Trust I

    The undersigned Holder hereby notifies you that it has delivered to JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Collateral Agent, [$      aggregate principal amount of Treasury Securities (CUSIP No. 912803AB9)] [$      aggregate stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities or $      principal amount of Treasury Consideration (CUSIP No.       )] in exchange for the related [Pledged Preferred Securities or Pledged Treasury Consideration] [Pledged Treasury Securities] held by the Collateral Agent, in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), between you, the Company and the Collateral Agent. The undersigned Holder hereby instructs you to instruct the Collateral Agent to release to you on behalf of the undersigned Holder the [Pledged Preferred Securities or the Pledged Treasury Consideration] [Pledged Treasury Securities] related to such [Normal Units] [Stripped Units]. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

Date:  
 
        Signature
             

 

 

 

 

Signature Guarantee:

 


Please print name and address of Registered Holder:

Name:  

Address:

 



 

 


Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any:                                                                           

B–1



EXHIBIT C
INSTRUCTION TO CUSTODIAL AGENT REGARDING REMARKETING

JPMorgan Chase Bank
as Collateral Agent
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Institutional Trust Services

    Re: Preferred Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I

    The undersigned hereby notifies you in accordance with Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among the Company, yourselves, as Collateral Agent, Securities Intermediary and Custodial Agent, and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent and as attorney-in-fact for the Holders of Normal Units and Stripped Units from time to time, that the undersigned elects to deliver [$            ] stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities for delivery to the Remarketing Agent on the fourth Business Day immediately preceding the Remarketing Date or any Subsequent Remarketing Date for remarketing pursuant to Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement. The undersigned will, upon request of the Remarketing Agent, execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Remarketing Agent or by the Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the sale, assignment and transfer of the Preferred Securities tendered hereby.

    The undersigned hereby instructs you, upon receipt of the proceeds of such remarketing from the Remarketing Agent, net of amounts payable to the Remarketing Agent in accordance with the Pledge Agreement, to deliver such proceeds to the undersigned in accordance with the instructions indicated herein under "A. Payment Instructions." The undersigned hereby instructs you, in the event of Failed Remarketing, upon receipt of the Preferred Securities tendered herewith from the Remarketing Agent, to be delivered to the person(s) and the address(es) indicated herein under "B. Delivery Instructions."

    With this notice, the undersigned hereby (i) represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the Preferred Securities tendered hereby and that the undersigned is the record owner of any Preferred Securities tendered herewith in physical form or a participant in The Depositary Trust Company ("DTC") and the beneficial owner of any Preferred Securities tendered herewith by book-entry transfer to your account at DTC and (ii) agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

Date:  
 

 

 

 

 

By:

 



 

 

 

 

Name:

 



 

 

 

 

Title:

 


        Signature Guarantee:  
Name:  
       

Address:

 



 

 

 

 

C–1


Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any:                                                                          

    A. PAYMENT INSTRUCTIONS

    Proceeds of the remarketing should be paid by check in the name of the person(s) set forth below and mailed to the address set forth below.

    Name(s)  
        (Please Print)

 

 

Address

 


        (Please Print)                     (Zip Code)    

 

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                                                  

    B. DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

    In the event of a Failed Remarketing, Preferred Securities which are in physical form should be delivered to the person(s) set forth below and mailed to the address set forth below.

    Name(s)  
        (Please Print)

 

 

Address

 


        (Please Print)                     (Zip Code)    

 

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                                                  

    In the event of a Failed Remarketing, Preferred Securities which are in book-entry form should be credited to the account at The Depository Trust Company set forth below.

DTC Account Number:  
   
Name of Account Party:  
   

C–2



EXHIBIT D
INSTRUCTION TO CUSTODIAL AGENT REGARDING
WITHDRAWAL FROM REMARKETING

JPMorgan Chase Bank
as Collateral Agent
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Attention: Institutional Trust Services

    Re: Preferred Securities of Boise Cascade Trust I

    The undersigned hereby notifies you in accordance with Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement, dated as of December 5, 2001 (the "Pledge Agreement"), among yourselves, as Collateral Agent, Securities Intermediary and Custodial Agent and BNY Western Trust Company, as Purchase Contract Agent and as attorney-in-fact for the Holders of Normal Units and Stripped Units from time to time, that the undersigned elects to withdraw the [$      ] aggregate stated liquidation amount of Preferred Securities delivered to the Custodial Agent on            , 2004 for remarketing pursuant to Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement. The undersigned hereby instructs you to return such Preferred Securities to the undersigned in accordance with the undersigned's instructions. With this notice, the Undersigned hereby agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions of Section 4.5(c) of the Pledge Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning set forth in the Pledge Agreement.

Date:  
       

 

 

 

 

By:

 



 

 

 

 

Name:

 



 

 

 

 

Title:

 


        Signature Guarantee:  
Name:  
       
Social Security or other Taxpayer Identification Number, if any:                                                                          

Address:

 



 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

D–1


    A. DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

    In the event of a Failed Remarketing, Preferred Securities which are in physical form should be delivered to the person(s) set forth below and mailed to the address set forth below.

    Name(s)  
        (Please Print)

 

 

Address

 


        (Please Print)                     (Zip Code)    

 

 

Tax Identification or Social Security Number:                                                                          

    In the event of a Failed Remarketing, Preferred Securities which are in book-entry form should be credited to the account at The Depository Trust Company set forth below.

DTC Account Number:  
   
Name of Account Party:  
   

D–2




QuickLinks

PLEDGE AGREEMENT
RECITALS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
ARTICLE II PLEDGE; CONTROL AND PERFECTION
ARTICLE III DISTRIBUTIONS ON PLEDGED COLLATERAL
ARTICLE IV SUBSTITUTION, RELEASE, REPLEDGE AND SETTLEMENT OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
ARTICLE V VOTING RIGHTS—PREFERRED SECURITIES
ARTICLE VI RIGHTS AND REMEDIES; TAX EVENT REDEMPTION; DISTRIBUTION OF THE SENIOR DEBENTURES
ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; COVENANTS
ARTICLE VIII THE COLLATERAL AGENT
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENT
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
EXHIBIT A INSTRUCTION FROM PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT TO COLLATERAL AGENT
EXHIBIT B INSTRUCTION TO PURCHASE CONTRACT AGENT
EXHIBIT C INSTRUCTION TO CUSTODIAL AGENT REGARDING REMARKETING
EXHIBIT D INSTRUCTION TO CUSTODIAL AGENT REGARDING WITHDRAWAL FROM REMARKETING