IP Benefits You
Unfunded Savings Plan
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INTERNATIONAL [LOGO] PAPER
IP Benefits You
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Overview of the Plan
Who Is Eligible
How to Enroll
Participation
How the Plan Works
How Participation in the Plan Affects Your Other Benefits
Types of Contributions
Basic Contributions
Company Matching Contributions
Supplemental Contributions
MIP Deferral Election
Changing Your Rate of Contributions
Investment Options
Basic and Supplemental Contributions
Company Matching Contributions
Changing Investment of Future Contributions
Investment Fund Equivalents
The Stable Value Fund Equivalent
The Bond Fund Equivalent
The Balanced Fund Equivalent
The S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent
The Small Cap Fund Equivalent
The Growth Fund Equivalent
The International Stock Fund Equivalent
The Company Stock Fund Equivalent
Rate of Return on Your Investment
Valuation of Your Account
Interfund Transfers
Transfers of Basic Contributions and Supplemental Contributions
Transfers of Company Matching Contributions
Vesting Rights
Vesting of Your Contributions
Vesting of Company Matching Contributions
Withdrawals
Designated at Initial Plan Participation
Designated After Initial Plan Participation
Distributions
Termination of Employment
Retirement or Disability
How Payments Are Made
Distributions Upon Death
Other Information
Nonassignability of Interest
If You Are Transferred
Federal Income Tax Information
General Administration of the Plan
Introduction
The International Paper Company Unfunded Savings Plan (the USP or Plan) is a
savings plan designed to provide you with an opportunity to save through your
own deferrals of pay and through company matching contributions.
The USP is an unfunded deferred compensation plan. This means that the pay
which you defer under the USP and any company matching contributions credited to
your account are not invested in a separate trust. Instead, all deferred amounts
will be paid directly by the company out of its general assets at the time when
benefits become due and payable under the Plan.
The Plan was amended and restated effective January 1, 1995. This booklet
reflects provisions effective February 1, 2000, unless otherwise indicated.
This booklet is intended to help you better understand your benefits under the
Plan. If there is any conflict between the information in this summary plan
description and the provisions of the Plan, the plan document always will
control.
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Overview of the Plan
o You have the opportunity to defer more than the statutory maximum allowed in
the International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan (the SSP);
o Company matching contributions are credited on your basic contributions;
o Basic contributions and supplemental contributions may be credited with
earnings based on your choice of eight investment fund equivalents -- the
Stable Value Fund Equivalent, the Bond Fund Equivalent, the Balanced Fund
Equivalent, the S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent, the Small Cap Fund Equivalent,
the Growth Fund Equivalent, the International Stock Fund Equivalent and the
Company Stock Fund Equivalent;
o Company matching contributions are credited with earnings based on the Company
Stock Fund Equivalent;
o Taxes are deferred on your contributions, company matching contributions and
earnings credited to your account until distributed from the Plan;
o The value of your contributions is vested immediately, and a vesting schedule
is applied to company matching contributions;
o While you are actively employed, distributions of specific dollar amounts may
be made from your contributions without penalty or suspension, provided you
designate the amounts and dates of distribution prior to initial plan
participation;
o While you are actively employed, withdrawals of your contributions may be made
with a 10 percent forfeiture penalty and 12-month suspension of contributions,
if the withdrawal distribution is requested after initial plan participation;
o On and after February 1, 2000, you may transfer the balance of your basic and
supplemental contributions among the eight investment fund equivalents daily;
o Beginning with the year you attain age 55, you may transfer all or part of the
balance of your company matching contributions from the Company Stock Fund
Equivalent among the other investment fund equivalents. This provision is
effective October 1, 1999;
o If you retire or become disabled, you may receive your account balance in a
lump sum or installments, or you may defer commencement up to age 70 1/2.
Who Is Eligible
You are eligible to participate in the Plan if you are:
o Eligible to participate in the Salaried Savings Plan; and
o Employed in Position Level 18 or above (or equivalent) or have SSP plan
compensation in excess of $160,000 (indexed for cost of living) for the
preceding calendar year.
In order to participate, you must enroll in the Plan and be actively
contributing to the Salaried Savings Plan.
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How to Enroll
When you become eligible, you will be given an enrollment packet. You may make
your elections by calling Savings Plan PAL. If you choose to make contributions
to the Plan, you will:
o Select the percentage of total pay you want to contribute under the SSP and
the USP, in combination;
o Authorize the company to make payroll deductions for your contributions;
o Choose the investment fund equivalent(s) for your contributions;
o Designate any in-service distribution(s) to be paid to you; and
o Select your beneficiary(ies).
Important Note - If you choose not to join the Plan when you first become
eligible, you may join at a later date by calling Savings Plan PAL.
Participation
How the Plan Works
If you choose to participate in the USP, your SSP and USP contributions are
determined in combination and are allocated between the two plans based on the
following:
o The percentage of compensation which you wish to save; and
o Your choice to either maximize before-tax contributions or to maximize
contributions to the SSP.
You also have the following optional choice:
o Your USP contributions may be limited to the maximum basic rate available.
When you become a participant in the Plan, an account is established for you.
Your account contains all the details relating to your contributions, company
matching contributions and any investment fund equivalent gains or losses. This
information is recorded separately for each investment fund equivalent in which
you have amounts credited.
How Participation in the Plan Affects Your Other Benefits
Most salaried pensions under the Retirement Plan of International Paper
Company are based on final average earnings. In general, earnings included in
the pension calculation are base pay, bonuses, salary deferrals to the SSP and
to Internal Revenue Code Section 125 Plans (including Health and Dependent Day
Care contributions), but not salary deferred as contributions under this Plan.
Thus, making contributions to the Plan during your final years of employment,
when final average earnings are calculated, could reduce your annual pension
from the Retirement Plan.
However, if your Retirement Plan pension is reduced by your contributions to
this Plan, the amount of the reduction will be paid as a benefit from the
International Paper Company Pension Restoration Plan at retirement. The Pension
Restoration Plan is a nonqualified plan with benefits paid from the general
assets of the company.
Important Note - Making contributions to this Plan will not lower your life
insurance or disability insurance benefits from the company.
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Types of Contributions
The following sections describe the various types of contributions you may
make to the SSP and USP, as well as any company matching contributions which may
be credited to your accounts under the SSP and USP.
You must designate the percentage of your total pay which you wish to
contribute to the combined SSP/USP. Your contributions will be designated as
basic or supplemental.
Basic Contributions
The first contributions which you make will be designated as basic
contributions. The range of percentages permitted for basic contributions is
listed in the Appendix.
Basic contributions are credited with company matching contributions.
Company Matching Contributions
The company will credit matching contributions to your SSP or USP account in
an amount equal to a percentage of the basic contributions which you make. The
company matching percentage is listed in the Appendix.
Supplemental Contributions
If you make the maximum basic contributions permitted, any excess
contributions will be designated as supplemental contributions. The range of
percentages permitted for supplemental contributions is listed in the Appendix.
Supplemental contributions are not eligible for company matching
contributions.
MIP Deferral Election
As a participant in the company's Management Incentive Plan (MIP), you have
the option of making a separate election as to the rate of contributions to be
applied to your MIP award. Midyear, you will receive communications outlining
the process to make this election.
Changing Your Rate of Contributions
Once a month you may:
o Increase or decrease the percentage of total pay you contribute under the
combined SSP/USP; or
o Suspend your contributions.
To make a change, enter the change on Savings Plan PAL. The change will take
effect as soon as administratively possible after the month in which the change
is made.
Investment Options
The Plan has eight investment options: the Stable Value Fund Equivalent; the
Bond Fund Equivalent; the Balanced Fund Equivalent; the S&P 500 Index Fund
Equivalent; the Small Cap Fund Equivalent; the Growth Fund Equivalent; the
International Stock Fund Equivalent and the Company Stock Fund Equivalent. Since
this is an unfunded plan, your contributions and any company matching
contributions are not invested in a separate trust. Instead, your account is
simply credited with the same investment gain or loss that it would have
received had it been invested in the Stable Value Fund, Bond Fund, Balanced
Fund, S&P 500 Index Fund, Small Cap Fund, Growth Fund, International Stock Fund
and/or Company Stock Fund of the SSP.
Basic and Supplemental Contributions
You may invest your basic and supplemental contributions among the Stable
Value Fund Equivalent, the Bond Fund Equivalent, the Balanced Fund Equivalent,
the S&P 500 Index Equivalent, the Small Cap Fund Equivalent, the Growth Fund
Equivalent, the International Stock Fund Equivalent and the Company Stock Fund
Equivalent, in multiples of 1 percent.
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Company Matching Contributions
Company matching contributions are invested in the Company Stock Fund
Equivalent.
Changing Investment of Future Contributions
You may change your choice of investment fund equivalents for your future
basic and supplemental contributions daily. Your investment selection will be
processed with the next available payroll cycle.
Investment Fund Equivalents
The Stable Value Fund Equivalent
The Stable Value Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Stable Value Fund which
seeks to preserve capital while earning a competitive rate of return by
investing in a diversified portfolio of contracts backed by high-quality bonds
and investment contracts issued by insurance companies and banks. The rate of
return earned by the SSP fund will be a function of the rates earned on each of
the fund's holdings, which are actively managed, and will be impacted by changes
in interest rates.
The Bond Fund Equivalent
The Bond Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Bond Fund which seeks a high
level of interest income and some capital appreciation by investing in a
diversified portfolio representative of the U. S. bond market. The fund invests
primarily in U.S. government, investment grade corporate, and mortgage-backed
securities. The fund's value will usually change in response to interest rates.
When interest rates rise, the value of the fund can generally be expected to
decline; conversely, when interest rates fall, the value of the fund can
generally be expected to rise.
The Balanced Fund Equivalent
The Balanced Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Balanced Fund which seeks
long-term capital growth and income through investment in a managed mutual fund
of 60-70 percent stocks and 30-40 percent high-quality bonds. The stocks are
held for potential growth and income from dividends, while the bonds are held
for income and relative stability. The value of your investment will fluctuate
with the market prices of and income earned by the mutual fund's holdings.
The S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent
The S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP S&P 500 Index Fund which
seeks long-term growth of capital and income by investing in a mutual fund which
holds the 500 most widely held stocks in the U.S. in an attempt to match the
performance and risk characteristics of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite
Stock Price Index. The value of your investment will fluctuate with the market
prices of and dividends paid on the various stocks held in the mutual fund.
The Small Cap Fund Equivalent
The Small Cap Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Small Cap Fund which seeks
long-term growth of capital by investing in stocks that are among the smallest
companies in the stock market (these stocks generally have market
capitalizations of less than $2.5 billion). In aggregate, this fund has a
blended orientation, holding stocks that have both a growth- and
value-orientation. The value of your investment will fluctuate with the market
prices of the various stocks held in the fund.
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The Growth Fund Equivalent
The Growth Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Growth Fund which seeks
long-term growth of capital by investing in a managed mutual fund of common
stocks of mid- to large-capitalization companies exhibiting above-average
prospects for growth. Dividend income is a secondary consideration. The value of
your investment will fluctuate primarily with the market prices of the various
stocks held by the mutual fund.
The International Stock Fund Equivalent
The International Stock Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP International
Stock Fund which seeks long-term growth of capital by investing in a diversified
mutual fund of stocks of companies outside the United States, normally investing
in at least five different countries. The value of your investment will
fluctuate with the market prices of the various stocks held by the mutual fund
and can be affected by currency exchange rates.
The Company Stock Fund Equivalent
The Company Stock Fund Equivalent is based on the SSP Company Stock Fund which
is invested in International Paper Company common stock. Dividends are
reinvested in additional shares of International Paper Company common stock. The
value of the SSP fund fluctuates depending upon dividends paid and the market
value of the stock.
Rate of Return on Your Investment
Any investment involves some degree of financial risk. Furthermore, since your
USP contributions are not in a separate trust but are part of the company's
general assets, participation in this Plan involves greater risks than
participation in the Salaried Savings Plan. The annual investment results will
vary depending on the growth of the equivalent investment fund which is being
mirrored. Investment results will be reported to you quarterly.
Valuation of Your Account
Each of the investment fund equivalents is valued every day that the New York
Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open using the daily price on the NYSE. The value of
your account is equal to: the amounts you originally contributed, plus your
company matching contributions, plus deemed reinvested earnings, plus any
equivalent increase or less any equivalent decrease in the market value of your
investments, less any distributions from your account.
Quarterly, you will receive a statement showing the value of your account.
This statement will show all savings activity, including your contributions,
company matching contributions, investment experience and any transfers or
distributions made in that investment period.
Interfund Transfers
Transfers of Basic Contributions and Supplemental Contributions
On a daily basis, you may transfer the balance of your basic and supplemental
contributions in the Plan among the Stable Value Fund Equivalent, the Bond Fund
Equivalent, the Balanced Fund Equivalent, the S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent, the
Small Cap Fund Equivalent, the Growth Fund Equivalent, the International Stock
Fund Equivalent and the Company Stock Fund Equivalent so that the resulting
investments in such investment fund equivalents are in multiples of 1 percent.
The transfers will take effect each day the NYSE is open, provided the request
is entered by close of business, generally 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Transfers of Company Matching Contributions
Beginning with the year in which you attain age 55 or older, you may transfer
all or a part of the balance of company matching contributions in the Company
Stock Fund Equivalent so that it is reallocated among the
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Stable Value Fund Equivalent, the Bond Fund Equivalent, the Balanced Fund
Equivalent, the S&P 500 Index Fund Equivalent, the Small Cap Fund Equivalent,
the Growth Fund Equivalent, the International Stock Fund Equivalent and/or the
Company Stock Fund Equivalent. This transfer may be made on a daily basis during
the calendar year and will take effect each day that the NYSE is open, provided
the request is entered by close of business, generally 4 p.m. Eastern time. You
must designate the percentage of your account to be transferred, in multiples of
1 percent. The balance must be invested in the available investment fund
equivalents in multiples of 1 percent.
To make a transfer, enter the transfer request on Savings Plan PAL. Transfers
are processed every day that the NYSE is open, as of the close of business,
generally 4 p.m. Eastern time.
Vesting Rights
Vesting of Your Contributions
You always are 100 percent vested in the value of your contributions to the
Plan.
Vesting of Company Matching Contributions
You become vested in the value of company matching contributions as follows:
Years of Service Vested
Completed Percentage
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Less than 3 0%
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3 but less than 4 35%
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4 but less than 5 70%
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5 or more 100%
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Withdrawals
To offer you the financial flexibility you may need, the Plan gives you access
to your account during your active employment through withdrawals, subject to
certain penalties described below.
Designated at Initial Plan Participation
At initial plan participation, you may designate specific dollar amount(s) to
be paid at specific date(s) in the future. These withdrawals are made from the
balance of your basic and supplemental contributions to the extent such
amount(s) are available and provided the designated date(s) occur before your
termination of employment. There are no penalties associated with this type of
withdrawal.
Designated After Initial Plan Participation
After initial plan participation, you may request a withdrawal, for any reason
and in any amount, to be paid from the balance of your basic and supplemental
contributions. The withdrawal payment will be made in the year following your
request, on the date you designate. Because of the IRS tax-deferred status of
accounts under the Plan, your contributions to the Plan will be suspended for
the year during which the withdrawal is paid and your withdrawal amount will be
reduced by 10 percent.
Important Note - Any withdrawal may be restricted to the extent necessary to
comply with certain statutory limitations regarding the five officers subject
to proxy disclosure reporting.
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Distributions
Distribution of your account balance is made under a form of payment described
below, based on the event causing distribution.
Termination of Employment
If your employment terminates before retirement or disability, your account
balance will be distributed to you in a lump sum at termination.
Retirement or Disability
Normal Form
Under the normal form, if your employment terminates due to retirement at or
after age 55 with 10 years of service or due to disability, your account balance
will be distributed to you in a lump sum in January following your retirement.
Optional Form
If you do not want your distribution paid in the normal form, you may make a
choice prior to your retirement to have your distribution paid in an optional
form. Under this choice, you may defer receipt of your account balance to a
designated date beginning any time in the year following retirement and up to
age 70 1/2 , and you may choose to receive distribution in either a lump sum or
installments over 5 to 20 years. If you elect the optional form, you must
forward a completed distribution and deferral form to the savings plan service
center prior to your retirement date.
How Payments Are Made
The value of your account will be determined as soon as practicable after your
distribution date. Your distribution will be processed by the end of the month
following your termination. Interest and dividends will be credited to your
account until the valuation date. All distributions will be made in cash.
Distribution requests will be processed as soon as practicable following the
receipt of the distribution form. In general, distributions are processed on a
monthly cycle, with interest and dividend equivalents credited to your account
to the payment date. A detailed schedule of distribution processing cycles is
available from the savings plan service center.
Distributions Upon Death
If you die while actively employed or before distribution of your account
balance, the value of your account will be paid to your designated
beneficiary(ies) in a lump sum as soon as practicable following your death.
If you die while receiving installment payments, the remaining installment
payments will continue to your designated beneficiary(ies). The plan
administrator, in its discretion, may choose to pay the balance in a lump sum to
your beneficiary(ies).
Other Information
Nonassignability of Interest
Apart from your right to name one or more beneficiaries to receive any
distribution payable in the event of your death, federal law requires that no
right to payment under the Plan can be subject to sale, transfer, pledge,
assignment, attachment or encumbrance of any kind.
If You Are Transferred
If you are transferred to a subsidiary or group that is not covered by the
Plan and, as a result, are no longer eligible to make deferrals under the Plan,
your account will remain in the Plan until distributed. However, you will not be
able to make contributions under the Plan, and the company will not credit any
additional company matching contributions to your account.
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Federal Income Tax Information
While any amount you choose to defer as USP contributions will reduce the
amount of your current reportable total pay for federal income and certain state
and local income tax purposes, your deferral will not reduce the amount of your
reportable total pay which is subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes. All
amounts deferred (and company matching contributions as they "vest") are
included in your Social Security and Medicare wage bases subject to the
statutory annual Social Security maximum wage base (the Medicare wage base is
unlimited).
When you receive a payment from the Plan, you will be responsible for paying
any income taxes that apply in the year you receive your payment. The total
amount of your distribution (including withdrawals) will be reflected on your
Form W-2 from the company and will be taxable as additional compensation in the
year of payment.
Federal and state laws require that applicable federal, state and local income
taxes be withheld from your distribution. The plan administrator will provide
you with a distribution statement showing the details.
Because the Plan is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan, the
rollover rules are not available.
General Administration of the Plan
Plan Sponsor
The Plan described in this summary plan description is sponsored by:
International Paper Company
Two Manhattanville Road
Purchase, NY 10577
(914) 397-1500
Plan Administrator
The administration of the Plan is the responsibility of the plan
administrator, who is:
Senior Vice President - Human Resources
International Paper
c/o Employee Benefits Department
6400 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38197
(901) 763-6000
As an officer of the company, the plan administrator serves at the discretion
of the company's board of directors. No charge is made to the employee accounts
under this Plan for compensation of the plan administrator.
Amendment and Termination
The company reserves the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Unfunded
Savings Plan at any time, provided that any such action shall not adversely
affect any plan participant's right to receive payment, pursuant to the terms of
this Plan, of any unpaid vested amounts.
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ERISA Classification
The Plan is an unfunded employee pension benefit savings plan which is
maintained by the company "for the purpose of providing deferred compensation
for a select group of management or highly compensated employees." The Plan is,
therefore, exempt from Parts 2, 3 and 4 of Subtitle B of Title I of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA) which pertains to
participation and vesting, funding and fiduciary responsibilities. Pursuant to
regulations issued by the Secretary of Labor in 29 CFR 2520.104-23, the Plan is
exempted from the reporting and disclosure provisions of Part 1 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA, except for providing plan documents to the Secretary of Labor
upon request. Title IV of ERISA relating to plan termination insurance does not
apply to the Plan, and insurance benefits of the type specified in Title IV of
ERISA will not be extended to plan participants or their beneficiaries.
Available Information
The company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and, in accordance
therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission). Copies of such reports,
proxy statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549; the Commission's regional offices at 26 Federal Plaza,
Room 1102, New York, New York 10278; and 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60604. Copies of such material also can be obtained at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, where
the shares of the company's common stock are listed.
The company hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each participant,
upon written or oral request of such person to the company at the address set
forth below, a copy of its most recent annual report to shareholders, as well as
any and all information that has been incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement of which this document is a part, excluding exhibits to
the information incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated herein. Additional updating information with respect to the
securities and the Plan covered herein may be provided in the future by means of
updates to this document. Such written or oral requests should be directed to:
International Paper Company
Two Manhattanville Road
Purchase, NY 10577
Attn: Investor Relations Department
(914) 397-1500
The company hereby incorporates by reference into this document the following
documents filed with the Commission:
o The company's Annual Report on Form 10-K;
o All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
by the company and by the Plan; and
o The description of the common stock of the company contained in the
Registration Statements filed pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act
relating thereto, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of
updating such description.
All documents filed by the company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this document and before the termination of this
offering of the company's common stock will be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this document and to be part hereof from the date of filing of
such documents.
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Unfunded Savings Plan Appendix
Basic Supplemental Company
Contributions Contributions Matching
Organization (Percent of Pay) (Percent of Pay) Contributions
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International Paper 1 - 8% 1 - 77% 70% of basic up to 4%;
locations with SIP 50% of basic up to next 4%
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xpedx 1 - 7.5% .5 - 77.5% 50% of basic
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SAL_USPA-2000 Printed September 1999
INTERNATIONAL [LOGO] PAPER
September 1999
International Paper is an equal opportunity employer.
M/F/D/V
USP_SAL99
Printed on Regalia'r' by Hammermill, Olde Porcelain, 80 lb., Text, Smooth.