<Page> [LOGO OF INTERNATIONAL PAPER] INTERNATIONAL PAPER PLAZA 400 ATLANTIC STREET STAMFORD, CT 06921 News Release CONTACTS: Media: Jennifer Boardman, 203-541-8407 ----- Stacy Wygant, 901-359-6335 Investors: Carol Tutundgy, 203-541-8632 --------- Darial Sneed, 203-541-8541 International Paper Reports First-Quarter 2002 Earnings Stamford, Conn. - April 19, 2002 - International Paper (NYSE: IP) today reported 2002 first-quarter earnings of $58 million ($0.12 per share), compared with $24 million ($0.05 per share) in the first quarter 2001 and $58 million ($0.12 per share) in the fourth quarter 2001. All figures are before special and extraordinary items. First-quarter net sales were $6 billion compared with $6.9 billion for the same period in 2001 and $6.3 billion in the fourth quarter of 2001. "We completed the first quarter with strong momentum, and we continue to improve our underlying cost structure in a difficult macro environment," said John Dillon, International Paper chairman and chief executive officer. "Our internal programs are having a major impact on our earnings, we have continued to match our production with our customers' demand, and we have delivered on our commitment to sell businesses that do not meet our long-term goals. Our inventories have been significantly reduced from last year's levels, and we have now divested more than $3 billion worth of assets. When the economic rebound does occur, we are very well positioned to take advantage of it." After special items, International Paper reported 2002 first-quarter net earnings of $65 million ($0.13 per share), compared with a net loss of $44 million ($0.09 per share) in the 2001 first quarter after special and extraordinary items. In the fourth quarter of 2001, the company reported a net loss of $572 million ($1.19 per share) after special items. Special items in the first quarter consisted of a $10 million pre-tax credit ($7 million after taxes) for the reversal of reserves no longer required. First-quarter 2001 special items included a $10 million pre-tax charge ($6 million after taxes) for Champion merger integration costs, an extraordinary pre-tax charge of $73 million ($46 million after taxes) related to the impairment of the Masonite business and the divestiture of the Petroleum and Minerals assets, and a $25 million charge before taxes and minority interest ($16 million after taxes and minority interest) for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for derivatives and hedging activities. Special items <Page> in the 2001 fourth quarter totaled a pre-tax loss of $745 million ($630 million after taxes), including charges for asset shutdowns of excess internal capacity and cost reduction actions, losses related to dispositions and asset impairments of businesses held for sale, and a credit for the reversal of reserves no longer required. First quarter 2002 results also reflect new accounting requirements that eliminated goodwill amortization effective January 1, 2002. Goodwill amortization totaled approximately $46 million (or $0.10 per share) in each quarter of 2001. The favorable effect of this accounting change on 2002 first quarter results was offset by a higher effective tax rate that reduced earnings by $0.06 per share, and a reduction in pension income primarily due to the assumed return on assets that reduced earnings by $0.04 per share, both compared with the fourth quarter of 2001. Segment Information Compared to first quarter 2001, operating profit was slightly lower as weak demand and pricing in the Printing Papers segment offset strong performances in Packaging and Forest Products. First-quarter 2002 segment earnings and business trends compared with the fourth quarter of 2001 are as follows. First-quarter earnings for Printing Papers were $76 million, down from fourth-quarter 2001 earnings of $119 million as demand continued to weaken and prices remained under pressure for market pulp. The strong U.S. dollar and the start up of offshore coated paper capacity further hampered a weak U.S. market for coated papers during the quarter. Industrial and Consumer Packaging earnings were $128 million in the first quarter, down slightly from $129 million in the fourth quarter 2001. Despite soft market conditions, results were primarily influenced by rationalization programs, cost improvement initiatives and lower energy and material costs within the Consumer Packaging business. Earnings in the company's distribution business, xpedx, rose to $18 million for the first quarter 2002 compared with a $10 million loss in the 2001 fourth quarter, due to aggressive internal cost reduction programs and lower bad debt charges. First-quarter Forest Products earnings of $176 million were up from $153 million in the fourth quarter 2001 due to higher lumber and plywood prices. Earnings at Carter Holt Harvey, International Paper's 50.4 percent owned subsidiary in New Zealand, rose slightly to $10 million in the first quarter compared with fourth-quarter 2001 earnings of $8 million. Internal cost control programs and stronger volumes in the New Zealand building supplies business favorably impacted results. The company will hold a webcast to discuss earnings and current market conditions at 1 p.m. (EDT) today. All interested parties are invited to listen to the webcast live via the company's Internet site at http://www.internationalpaper.com by clicking on the Investor Information button. Persons who wish to listen to the live earnings webcast must pre-register at the site prior to the webcast. A replay of the webcast will also be available on the web-site beginning at 3 p.m. (EDT) this afternoon. <Page> International Paper (http://www.internationalpaper.com) is the world's largest paper and forest products company. Businesses include paper, packaging, and forest products. As one of the largest private forest landowners in the world, the company manages its forests under the principles of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI'sm') program, a system that ensures the continual planting, growing and harvesting of trees while protecting wildlife, plants, soil, air and water quality. Headquartered in the United States, International Paper has operations in nearly 50 countries and exports its products to more than 130 nations. # # # Statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including risks related to the effect on our business of our efforts to balance internal supply with demand, whether anticipated merger, restructuring and divestiture benefits can be achieved and conditions affecting demand for our products, including impacts relating to foreign exchange rates. <Page> International Paper Summary of Consolidated Earnings Preliminary and Unaudited (In millions except for net sales and per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, ----------------------------- 2002 2001 ---------- --------- Net Sales (In billions) $6.0 $6.9 ---------- --------- Earnings Before Interest, Income Taxes, Minority Interest, Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Accounting 344(a) 335(b) Change Interest expense, net 205 248 ---------- --------- Earnings Before Income Taxes, Minority Interest, Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change 139(a) 87(b) Income tax provision 43(a) 27(b) Minority interest expense, net of taxes 31 42 ---------- --------- Earnings Before Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change 65(a) 18(b) Net losses on sales and impairments of investments and businesses held for sale, net of taxes and minority interest - (46)(c) Cumulative effect of change in accounting for derivatives and hedging activities, net of taxes - (16) ---------- --------- Net Earnings (Loss) $65(a) $(44)(b,c) ========== ========= Earnings Per Common Share Before Extraordinary Items and Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change $0.13(a) $0.04(b) Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Extraordinary Items - (0.10)(c) Cumulative Effect of Accounting Change - (0.03) ---------- --------- Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share $0.13(a) $(0.09)(b,c) ========== ========= Earnings (Loss) Per Common Share - Assuming Dilution $0.13(a) $(0.09)(b,c) ========== ========= Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding 482.3 482.7 ========== ========= (a) Includes a $10 million pre-tax credit ($7 million after taxes) for the reversal of reserves no longer required. (b) Includes a $10 million pre-tax charge ($6 million after taxes) for Champion merger integration costs. (c) Includes an extraordinary pre-tax charge of $73 million ($46 million after taxes) related to the impairment of the Masonite business and the divestiture of the Petroleum and Minerals assets. <Page> International Paper Sales by Industry Segment Preliminary and Unaudited (In Millions) Three Months Ended March 31, ------------------------------- 2002 2001 --------------- ------------ Printing Papers $1,820 $ 2,085 Industrial and Consumer Packaging 1,460 1,590 Distribution 1,535 1,800 Forest Products 765 685 Carter Holt Harvey 410 395 Other Businesses (1) 420 715 Less: Intersegment Sales (372) (376) ----------- ---------- $6,038 $6,894 =========== ========== (1) Principally includes businesses identified in our divestiture program. <Page> International Paper Earnings by Industry Segment Preliminary and Unaudited (In Millions) Three Months Ended March 31, ------------------------------- 2002 2001 -------------- ------------ Printing Papers $ 76 $154 Industrial and Consumer Packaging 128 113 Distribution 18 14 Forest Products 176 136 Carter Holt Harvey 10 1 Other Businesses (1) 10 8 ---------- ---------- Operating Profit 418 426 Interest expense, net (205) (248) Minority interest adjustment 10 3 Corporate items, net (94) (84) Merger integration costs - (10) Reversal of reserves no longer required 10 - ---------- ---------- Earnings before income taxes, minority interest, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting change $139 $ 87 ========== ========== (1) Principally includes businesses identified in our divestiture program. <Page> INTERNATIONAL PAPER SALES VOLUMES BY PRODUCT (a) (b) (UNAUDITED) Three Months Ended March 31, ------------------------- 2002 2001 ---- ---- Printing Papers (In thousands of short tons) Uncoated Papers and Bristols 1,621 1,653 Coated Papers 509 533 Market Pulp 611 536 Packaging (In thousands of short tons) Containerboard 504 524 Bleached Packaging Board 314 307 Kraft 173 153 Industrial and Consumer Packaging 1,113 1,203 Forest Products (In millions) Panels (sq. ft. 3/8" - basis) 779 688 Lumber (board feet) 1,005 976 MDF and Particleboard (sq. ft. 3/4" - basis) 179 156 (a) Includes third party and inter-segment sales. (b) Sales Volumes for divested businesses are included through the date of sale. <Page> INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY Consolidated Balance Sheet Preliminary and Unaudited (In Millions) March 31, December 31, 2002 2001 -------------- ------------ Assets Current Assets Cash and temporary investments $ 967 $ 1,224 Accounts and notes receivable, net 2,829 2,650 Inventories 2,740 2,733 Assets of businesses held for sale 875 648 Other current assets 1,110 1,057 -------------- -------------- Total Current Assets 8,521 8,312 -------------- -------------- Plants, Properties and Equipment, net 14,130 14,461 Forestlands 4,014 4,197 Investments 240 239 Goodwill 6,560 6,543 Deferred Charges and Other Assets 3,411 3,406 -------------- -------------- Total Assets $36,876 $37,158 ============== ============== Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities Notes payable and current maturities of long-term debt $ 709 $ 957 Liabilities of businesses held for sale 184 215 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 4,085 4,202 -------------- -------------- Total Current Liabilities 4,978 5,374 -------------- -------------- Long-Term Debt 12,421 12,457 Deferred Income Taxes 3,990 3,977 Other Liabilities 2,023 1,980 Minority Interest 1,301 1,274 Preferred Securities 1,805 1,805 Common Shareholders' Equity Invested capital 5,792 5,669 Retained earnings 4,566 4,622 -------------- -------------- Total Common Shareholders' Equity 10,358 10,291 -------------- -------------- Total Liabilities and Common Shareholders' Equity $36,876 $37,158 ============== ==============