Document:

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                                                                    Exhibit 10.6

                           INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY
                         NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AWARD

                                                          Identification Number:
John Sample
Any Address
Any Apartment
Any City, State 12354-5678

THIS CERTIFIES THAT the Management Development and Compensation Committee of the
Board of Directors of International Paper Company, a New York corporation (the
"Company"), has awarded NAME a Nonqualified Stock Option (this "Option") under
the International Paper Company Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan (as may be
amended from time to time, the "Plan") to purchase NUMBER shares of common stock
(par value $1.00) of the Company (the "Common Stock") at a price of $XX.XXXX.

This Option is exercisable, subject to the provisions on the reverse side of
this certificate. The details of this Option are as follows:

        NQSO Grant Number:
        Total Option Award:
        Option Price per Share:
        Grant Date:
        Expiration Date:
        Vesting Date:

This Option is subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan. Terms not
otherwise defined in this certificate have the meaning assigned to them in the
Plan. In the event of any inconsistency between the terms hereof and the
provisions of the Plan, the Plan shall govern. By accepting this Option, you
acknowledge receipt of a copy of the Company's stock option award program
prospectus, represent that you are familiar with the terms and provisions of the
Plan and agree to accept this Option subject to all the terms and provisions of
the Plan.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this award to be executed by its duly
authorized officers as of this __th day of __________, 20__.

International Paper Company

Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

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1.  Exercise of Options

Subject to the Plan and this certificate, this Option shall become exercisable
as set forth below, and thereafter may be exercised at any time, and from time
to time, in whole or in part, until its expiration or other termination;
provided that (a) this Option shall in no event be exercisable after the
Expiration Date; and (b) you have continuously been an employee of the Company
or a subsidiary of the Company since the Grant Date (except as provided in
Paragraphs 3, 4 or 5).

Exercise of this Option shall occur pursuant to appropriate notice, together
with provision for payment of (x) the full Option Price of the shares of Common
Stock for which this Option is exercised and (y) applicable withholding taxes.

2.  Termination of This Option
Any unexercised portion of this Option shall terminate, and shall not be
exercisable, on and after the first to occur of the following dates: (a) the
Expiration Date; or (b) the date you cease to be an employee of the Company or a
subsidiary of the Company, unless the termination of employment results from
disability (within the meaning of Paragraph 3), retirement (within the meaning
of Paragraph 4) or death, or unless the Committee determines otherwise pursuant
to Section 2 of the Plan.

3.  Disability
In the event you become totally disabled, this Option shall be immediately
exercisable and you may exercise this Option for up to the shorter of (a) one
year measured from the date of such total disability; or (b) the remaining term
of this Option. For purposes of this Paragraph 3, the term "totally disabled"
means the condition of total disability as defined in the Company's long-term
disability plan.

4.  Retirement
In the event of your termination of employment because of retirement under a
Company pension plan on or after attaining (a) age 61 with 20 years service; (b)
age 62 with 10 years service; or (c) age 65 with 5 years service, this Option
shall be immediately exercisable and you may exercise this Option during its
remaining term.

5.  Death
In the event of your death, this Option shall be immediately exercisable and may
be exercised for up to the shorter of (a) one year measured from the date of
your death; or (b) the remaining term of this Option, in either case by the
beneficiary or beneficiaries so designated (or if no beneficiary has been
designated or survives you, by the person or persons who have acquired your
rights by will or under the laws of descent and distribution).

6.  Change of Control of the Company
In the event a Change of Control of the Company occurs, this Option shall be
immediately exercisable.

7.  Waiver; Amendment; Termination
Subject to the Plan and applicable law, the Committee may waive any conditions
or rights under or change, amend or terminate this Option, prospectively or
retroactively; provided that any such waiver, change, amendment or termination
that would materially adversely affect your rights or your beneficiary or
beneficiaries shall not, to that extent, be effective without your (or his, her
or their) consent.

8.  Other Terms and Conditions
(a) This Option is not an "incentive stock option" within the meaning of Section
422 of the Internal Revenue Code.

(b) Prior to the exercise of this Option and delivery of the stock represented
thereby, you shall have no rights to any dividends nor be entitled to any voting
rights on any stock represented by this Option.

(c) This Option is not transferable or assignable by you otherwise than by will
or the laws of descent and distribution, and during your lifetime is exercisable
only by you or your guardian or legal representative.

(d) Decisions of the Committee or its delegates on all matters relating to the
Plan shall be in the Committee's sole discretion and shall be conclusive and
binding on all parties, including the Company, the shareholders and you.

(e) If at any time the Board of Directors or the Committee shall determine, in
its discretion, that the listing, registration or qualification of any shares of
Common Stock subject to this Option upon any securities exchange or under any
state or federal law, or the consent or approval of any regulatory commission or
agency having jurisdiction, is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in
connection with, the granting of this Option or the issue and sale of shares
hereunder, this Option may not be exercised in whole or in part. Inability of
the Company to obtain from any such regulatory commission or agency authority
which counsel for the Company deems necessary for the lawful issuance and sale
of Common Stock to satisfy this Option shall relieve the Company from any
liability for failure to issue and sell Common Stock to satisfy this Option
pending the time when such authority is obtained or is obtainable, and any delay
caused thereby shall in no way affect the date of termination of this Option.

(f) All of the terms and conditions of this certificate shall be binding upon
any surviving spouse, beneficiary, executor, administrator, heirs, successors or
assigns of you.<PAGE>

A

                                                                 Exhibit 10.8(a)

Mr. ((First_Name)) ((MI)) ((Last_Name))
International Paper Company
((TITLE))
((ADDRESS))
((CITY)), ((STATE)) ((ZIP))

Dear ((First)):

     International Paper Company (the "Company") considers the establishment and
maintenance of a sound and vital management to be essential to protecting and
enhancing the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. In this
connection, the Company recognizes that, as is the case with many publicly held
corporations, the possibility of a change of control may exist and that such
possibility, and the uncertainty and questions which it may raise among senior
management, may result in the departure or distraction of senior management
personnel to the detriment of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly, the
Company's Board of Directors has determined that appropriate steps should be
taken to reinforce and encourage the continued attention and dedication of
members of the Company's senior management, including yourself, to their
assigned duties without distraction in the face of the potentially disturbing
circumstances arising from the possibility of a change of control of the
Company.

     In order to induce you to remain in the employ of the Company, and to
continue to exercise your special skills and knowledge at the Company, this
letter agreement (this "Agreement") sets forth the benefits which the Company
agrees will be provided to you in the event your employment with the Company is
terminated subsequent to a Change of Control (as defined in Section 2 under the
circumstances described below.

     1.   TERM

     This Agreement shall commence on the date hereof and, unless there is a
Change of Control, shall continue until the earliest of (a) your termination of
employment as a

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"full-time employee" of the Company, (b) the date when you attain the age of 65
years or (c) the date when this Agreement is terminated by the Company in
accordance with the next sentence. If a Change of Control has not occurred, then
the Company shall have the right at any time to terminate this Agreement by
giving you 6 months prior written notice of termination of this Agreement.

     If a Change of Control occurs at any time prior to the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to the preceding paragraph, then this Agreement shall
terminate on the second anniversary of such Change of Control.

     2.   CHANGE OF CONTROL

          (a)  For purposes of this Agreement, a "Change of Control" shall be
     deemed to have occurred if:

               (i)   any "person" (as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the
          Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, other than employee
          benefit plans sponsored by the Company) is or becomes the beneficial
          owner, directly or indirectly, of securities of the Company
          representing 20% or more of the combined voting power of the Company's
          then outstanding securities;

               (ii)  during any period of 2 consecutive years, individuals who
          at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors of
          the Company (the "Board") cease for any reason to constitute at least
          a majority thereof, unless the election, or the nomination for
          election, by the Company's shareholders of each new director was
          approved by a vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the directors then
          still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period;

               (iii) a reorganization, merger or consolidation of the Company is
          consummated, in each case, unless, immediately following such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation, (x) more than 50% of the then
          outstanding shares of common stock of the corporation resulting from
          such reorganization, merger or consolidation and the combined voting
          power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation entitled
          to vote generally in the election of directors is then beneficially
          owned, directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the
          persons who were the beneficial owners of the Company's securities
          outstanding immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
          consolidation, (y) no person (other than employee benefit plans
          sponsored by the Company) beneficially owns, directly or indirectly,
          20% or more of the then outstanding shares of common stock of the
          corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
          consolidation or the combined voting power of the then outstanding
          securities of such corporation entitled to vote generally in the
          election of directors and (z) at least a majority of the members of
          the board of directors of the corporation resulting from such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation were members of the Board at
          the time of the execution of the initial agreement providing for such
          reorganization, merger or consolidation;

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               (iv) the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of
          the assets of the Company is consummated, other than to any
          corporation with respect to which, immediately following such sale or
          other disposition, (x) more than 50% of the then outstanding shares of
          common stock of such corporation and the combined voting power of the
          then outstanding securities of such corporation entitled to vote
          generally in the election of directors is then beneficially owned,
          directly or indirectly, by all or substantially all of the persons who
          were the beneficial owners of the Company's securities outstanding
          immediately prior to such sale or other disposition, (y) no person
          (other than employee benefit plans sponsored by the Company)
          beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of the then
          outstanding shares of common stock of such corporation or the combined
          voting power of the then outstanding securities of such corporation
          entitled to vote generally in the election of directors and (z) at
          least a majority of the members of the board of directors of such
          corporation were members of the Board at the time of the execution of
          the initial agreement or action of the Board providing for such sale
          or other disposition; or

               (v)  the shareholders of the Company approve a complete
          liquidation or dissolution of the Company;

provided that a "Change of Control", as it affects any award specified in the
International Paper Company Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan in effect
immediately prior to a Change of Control ("the LTICP"), shall have the meaning
for a "Change of Control of the Company" set forth in such plan and, as it
affects any benefits pursuant to the International Paper Company Unfunded
Supplemental Retirement Plan for Senior Managers then in effect (the "SERP"),
shall have the meaning for a "Change of Control" set forth in the SERP.

          (b) Provided that you remain in the employment of the Company as of
     the date immediately preceding a Change of Control, then upon the
     occurrence of such Change of Control:

               (i)   each stock option to purchase shares of the common stock of
          the Company (or such other securities of the Company that may be
          substituted for such stock of the Company) granted to you by the
          Company under any plan, arrangement or agreement before or after the
          date hereof (but prior to the Change of Control), including the LTICP,
          and then held by you shall become fully (100%) vested and exercisable;

               (ii)  any and all forfeiture provisions, transfer restrictions
          and any other restrictions applicable to each award of restricted
          stock of the Company (or such other securities of the Company that may
          be substituted for such stock of the Company) granted to you by the
          Company under any plan, arrangement or agreement before or after the
          date hereof (but prior to the Change of Control), including the LTICP,
          and then held by you shall immediately lapse in their entirety;

               (iii) the performance goals applicable to any performance-based
          awards granted to you by the Company under any plan,

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          arrangement or agreement (other than any short-term annual incentive
          plan) before or after the date hereof (but prior to the Change of
          Control), including the LTICP, and then held by you will be deemed to
          have been fully satisfied (i.e., achieved at 100% of target, or, if
          higher and determinable, achieved at the actual level) and all
          forfeiture provisions, transfer restrictions and any other
          restrictions applicable to any such performance-based awards shall
          immediately lapse in their entirety and all such awards shall be fully
          and immediately payable; and

               (iv) each executive continuity award and each other long-term
          award granted to you by the Company under any plan, arrangement or
          agreement before or after the date hereof (but prior to the Change of
          Control), including the LTICP, and then held by you shall become fully
          (100%) vested and, if applicable, exercisable.

     3.   TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT FOLLOWING CHANGE IN CONTROL

     If a Change in Control shall have occurred and your employment is
subsequently terminated by you or by the Company, you shall be entitled to the
benefits provided in Section 4 for the respective reasons for termination set
forth therein. Such reasons are defined as follows:

          (a)  Disability. Termination by the Company or you of your employment
               ----------
     based on "Disability" shall mean termination in accordance with the
     Company's long-term disability policy in effect immediately prior to the
     Change of Control or in accordance with any long-term disability
     arrangement established with your consent with respect to you (in either
     case, "Company Disability Policy").

          (b)  Retirement. Termination by the Company or you of your employment
               ----------
     based on "Retirement" shall mean termination on or after age 65 in
     accordance with the Company's retirement policy in effect immediately prior
     to the Change of Control or in accordance with any retirement arrangement
     established with your consent with respect to you (in either case, "Company
     Retirement Policy").

          (c)  Cause. Termination by the Company of your employment for "Cause"
               -----
     shall mean termination upon:

               (i)  the willful and continued failure by you substantially to
          perform your duties with the Company (other than any such failure
          resulting from your incapacity due to physical or mental illness or
          any such actual or anticipated failure resulting from termination by
          you for Good Reason) after a written demand for substantial
          performance is delivered to you by the Board, which demand
          specifically identifies the manner in which the Board believes that
          you have not substantially performed your duties; or

               (ii) the willful engaging by you in gross misconduct which is
          demonstrably and materially injurious to the Company, monetarily or

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          otherwise, including but not limited to your conviction or guilty plea
          for any felony crime.

     For purposes of this Section 3(c), no act, or failure to act, on your part
shall be deemed "willful" unless done, or omitted to be done, by you not in good
faith and without reasonable belief that your action or omission was in the best
interest of the Company, or, in the alternative, unless your act or failure to
act has resulted in your conviction or guilty plea for any felony crime.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, you shall not be deemed to have been
terminated for Cause unless and until there shall have been delivered to you a
copy of a resolution duly adopted by the affirmative vote of not less than
three-quarters (3/4) of the entire membership of the Board at a meeting of the
Board called and held for such purpose (after reasonable notice to you and an
opportunity for you, together with your counsel, to be heard before the Board),
finding that in the good faith opinion of the Board you were guilty of conduct
set forth above in Sections 3(c)(i) or 3(c)(ii) and specifying the particulars
thereof in detail.

          (d)  Voluntary Termination. You may terminate employment at any time
               ---------------------
     within a period of 18 months following a Change of Control.

          (e)  Notice of Termination. Any termination of your employment by the
               ---------------------
     Company pursuant to Sections 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c) or by you pursuant to
     Section 3(d) shall be communicated by written Notice of Termination to the
     other party hereto in accordance with Section 6. For purposes of this
     Agreement, a "Notice of Termination" shall mean a notice which shall
     indicate the specific termination provision in this Agreement relied upon
     and shall set forth in reasonable detail the facts and circumstances
     claimed to provide a basis for termination of your employment under the
     provision so indicated.

          (f)  Date of Termination. "Date of Termination" shall mean: (i) if
               -------------------
     your employment is terminated for Disability or Retirement, the date of
     termination as a "full-time employee" under the Company Disability Policy
     or Company Retirement Policy, respectively, (ii) if your employment is
     terminated pursuant to Section 3(d), the date specified in the Notice of
     Termination and (iii) if your employment is terminated for any other
     reason, the date on which a Notice of Termination is given; provided that
     if within 10 business days after any Notice of Termination is given, the
     party receiving such Notice of Termination notifies the other party that a
     dispute exists concerning such termination, the Date of Termination shall
     be the date on which the dispute is finally determined, either by mutual
     written agreement of the parties, by a binding and final arbitration award,
     or by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent
     jurisdiction (the time for appeal therefor having expired and no appeal
     having been perfected).

     4.   COMPENSATION UPON TERMINATION OR DURING DISABILITY

          (a)  Disability. During any period that you fail to perform your
               ----------
     duties under this Agreement as a result of incapacity due to physical or
     mental illness, you shall continue to receive your full base salary and
     benefits at the rate

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     and level then in effect until your employment is terminated pursuant to
     Section 3(a). Thereafter, your benefits shall be determined in accordance
     with the Company Disability Policy, and the Company shall have no further
     obligations to you under this Agreement.

          (b)  Retirement. If your employment is terminated pursuant to Section
               ----------
     3(b), then your benefits shall be determined in accordance with the
     Retirement Plan for Salaried Employees of International Paper Company and
     the SERP (or, for each, the substitute plan then in effect), referred to
     collectively in this Agreement as the "Pension Plan", and the Company shall
     have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

          (c)  Cause. If you employment is terminated for Cause, then the
               -----
     Company shall pay you your full base salary, plus normal benefits to which
     you would otherwise be entitled, through the Date of Termination at the
     rate and level in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, and
     the Company shall have no further obligations to you under this Agreement.

          (d)  Other Termination. Upon your termination of employment (other
               -----------------
     than for death or pursuant to Sections 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c)), the Company
     shall pay to you the following amounts in cash in one lump-sum payment
     within 30 days of the Date of Termination:

               (i)   your full base salary through the Date of Termination, at
          the rate in effect at the time Notice of Termination is given, plus an
          amount in cash equal to the value of any vacation earned but not taken
          (based upon such rate of base salary);

               (ii)  to the extent not paid, your full prior-year short-term
          annual incentive compensation (in the amount determined prior to the
          Date of Termination, or if such amount has not been determined as of
          the Date of Termination, an amount not less than the higher of (x)
          your actual short-term annual incentive compensation amount for the
          year before such prior-year or (y) your target short-term annual
          incentive compensation amount for such prior-year);

               (iii) your short-term annual incentive compensation for the year
          in which the Date of Termination occurs (the "Termination Year"), as
          if the performance goals applicable to such amount have been fully
          satisfied (i.e., achieved at 100% of target, or, if higher and
          determinable, achieved at the actual level); provided that such
          compensation will be prorated to reflect the number of days that have
          elapsed as of the Date of Termination since the beginning of such
          Termination Year;

               (iv)  the product of "3" times a "Base Amount" consisting of the
          sum of (I) your annualized base salary as of the Date of Termination
          and (II) the greater of (x) your target short-term annual incentive
          compensation amount for the year in which the Date of Termination
          occurs or (y) your average short-term annual incentive compensation
          amount during the 3 years preceding the Date of Termination (it being

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          understood that in the case of the most recent year preceding the Date
          of Termination, such amount may, if applicable, be the amount to which
          you have become entitled under Section 4(d)(ii) in respect of such
          year); provided that Base Amount shall exclude any compensation under

          long-term incentive compensation plans, performance share plans, stock
          option plans or executive continuity awards;

               (v)    an amount equal to the unpaid amount of any deferred
          incentive award if you were the recipient of a deferred incentive
          award which was not fully paid at the Date of Termination;

               (vi)   an amount equal to the following:

                         (A) the value of the product of the Product Number
                      times your average earned award (deferred and
                      non-deferred) under the International Paper Company
                      Performance Share Plan in effect as of the Date of
                      Termination, or such successor plan (the "PSP"), for the 3
                      years preceding the Date of Termination (but excluding any
                      special executive continuity award from that value);

                         (B) the value of any common stock of the Company
                      ("Company Common Stock") previously earned but deferred
                      under the PSP or the former Performance Incentive Plan;

                      provided that the value to be used in determining awards
                      under this Section 4(d)(vi) shall be the average of the
                      closing prices of Company Common Stock as reported for New
                      York Stock Exchange Composite Transactions (or such other
                      stock exchange where Company Common Stock is principally
                      listed) for 30 consecutive trading days ending with the
                      Date of Termination.

               (vii)  stock options equal to the product of the Product Number
          times the average number of stock options awarded to you during the 3
          years prior to the Termination Year (but excluding any special
          executive continuity award stock options); plus the extension of all
          stock options held by you for the period from the Date of Termination
          until the end of the normal terms of the options had your employment
          status not changed; plus

               (viii) in the event it shall be determined that any compensation
          by or benefit from the Company to you or for your benefit, whether
          pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise (collectively,
          the "Payment"), would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section
          4999 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), or
          any similar provision or any interest or penalties with respect to
          such excise tax (such excise tax, together with any such interest and
          penalties, are

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               hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Excise Tax"), an
               additional lump-sum payment (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount
               determined by the Company's outside auditors such that after
               payment by you of all taxes (including any interest or penalties
               imposed with respect to such taxes), including any Excise Tax,
               imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, you retain an amount of the
               Gross-Up Payment equal to the Excise Tax imposed upon the
               Payment; provided, however, that if the aggregate value of the
               Payment is less than 115% of the product of "3" times your "base
               amount" (as defined in Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) (such
               product, the "Golden Parachute Threshold"), then you shall not be
               entitled to any Gross-Up Payment and, instead, the Payment shall
               be reduced to an amount equal to $1.00 less than the Golden
               Parachute Threshold;

          provided that such lump-sum payment under this Section 4(d) shall be
          deposited in a "rabbi trust" upon the execution of any merger, stock
          purchase, asset purchase or similar agreement that, upon the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated thereunder, would result
          in a Change of Control; and provided further that the payments made to
          you under this Section 4(d) shall be in lieu of any salary, severance
          or termination payments, or payments under compensation or deferred
          compensation plans (other than payments due from trusts) for periods
          prior to and subsequent to the Date of Termination.

               (e) Normal Benefits. Notwithstanding your termination of
                   ---------------
          employment (other than for death or pursuant to Sections 3(a), 3(b) or
          3(c)), the Company shall maintain in full force and effect for the
          continued benefit of you and your dependents until the date you reach
          the age of 65, all employee benefit plans and programs or arrangements
          in which you were entitled to participate immediately prior to the
          Date of Termination (including medical and dental insurance coverage
          for you and your dependents), except the Company's Salary Continuance
          Plan, Company Disability Policy, travel and accident insurance and the
          savings investment plans; provided that your continued participation
          is possible under the general terms and provisions of such plans and
          programs. In the event that your participation in any such plan or
          program is barred, the Company shall arrange to provide you with
          benefits substantially similar to those which you are entitled to
          receive under such plans and programs except as otherwise provided in
          Section 4(f). At the end of the period of coverage, you shall have the
          option to have assigned to you at no cost and with no apportionment of
          prepaid premiums, any assignable insurance policy owned by the Company
          and relating specifically to you. Any portion of the payment set forth
          in Section 4(d) which constitutes "compensation" (as that term is
          defined under the Pension Plan) shall be included in determining your
          benefit entitlement under the terms of the Pension Plan. It is
          understood and agreed that you shall be entitled to any benefits in
          which you are vested as of termination pursuant to the terms of the
          respective benefit plans including but not limited to the Pension
          Plan.

               (f) Benefits Outside the Pension Plan. Notwithstanding your
                   ---------------------------------
          termination of employment (other than for death or pursuant to
          Sections 3(a), 3(b) or 3(c)), you shall be entitled to a lump-sum
          payment in cash in addition to the payment set forth in Section 4(d)
          calculated as follows:

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               (i)  your vested benefits under the terms of the Pension Plan
          will be paid to you pursuant to Section 4(e); in addition, you shall
          be paid under this Section 4(f) an amount equal to the difference
          between (A) the actuarial present value on the Date of Termination of
          your accrued vested benefits under the Pension Plan (payable as a life
          annuity from age 65) and (B) the actuarial present value on the Date
          of Termination of what your accrued benefits under the Pension Plan
          (payable as a life annuity from age 65) would have been if the period
          and payments referred to in Section 4(d)(iv) were recognized under the
          Pension Plan.

               (ii) in calculating the lump-sum payment referred to in this
          Section 4(f), the Company will use the applicable Pension Benefit
          Guaranty Corporation interest rate effective as of your Date of
          Termination and will make such payment no later than 30 days following
          the date of determination of the amount due.

          (g) Executive Financial Counseling Services. You shall be entitled to
              ---------------------------------------
receive executive financial counseling services valued up to $20,000 in
aggregate.

          (h) Non-Mitigation of Damages. You shall not be required to mitigate
              -------------------------
the amount of any payment provided for in this Section 4 (by seeking other
employment or otherwise), nor shall the amount of any payment provided for in
this Section 4 be reduced by any compensation earned by you as a result of
employment by another employer after the Date of Termination.

5.      SUCCESSORS; BINDING AGREEMENT

          (a) Successor Companies. The Company will require any successor
              -------------------
(whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to
all or substantially all of the business and/or assets of the Company, by
agreement in form and substance satisfactory to you, expressly to assume and
agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that
the Company would be required to perform it if no such succession had taken
place. Failure by the Company to obtain such agreement prior to the
effectiveness of any such succession shall be a breach of this Agreement and
shall entitle you to terminate your employment and to receive compensation from
the Company in the same amount and on the same terms as you would be entitled
hereunder if you voluntarily terminated your employment following a Change of
Control, except that for purposes of implementing the foregoing, the date on
which any such succession becomes effective shall be deemed the Date of
Termination. As used in this Agreement, "Company" shall mean the Company
hereinbefore defined and any successor to its business and/or assets as
aforesaid which executes and delivers the agreement provided for in this Section
5 or which otherwise becomes bound by all terms and provisions of this Agreement
by operation of law.

          (b) Heirs; Representatives. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit
              ----------------------
of and be enforceable by your personal or legal representatives, executors,
administrators, successors, heirs, distributees, devisees and legatees.

                                       9

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     If you should die while any amounts would still be payable to you hereunder
     if you had continued to live, all such amounts, unless otherwise provided
     herein, shall be paid in accordance with the terms of this Agreement to
     your devisee, legatee or other designee, or, if there be no such designee,
     to your estate.

     6.  NOTICE

     For the purposes of this Agreement, notices and all other communications
provided for in the Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given when delivered or mailed by United States certified mail, return
receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to the respective addresses set
forth on the first page of this Agreement; provided that all notices to the
Company shall be directed to the attention of the Senior Vice President Human
Resources of the Company with a copy to the Secretary of the Company, or to such
address as either party may have furnished to the other in writing in accordance
herewith, except that notices of change of address shall be effective only upon
receipt.

     7.  MISCELLANEOUS

     This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement on this subject matter
between the parties and supersedes any prior oral or written agreements or
understandings on the subject matter covered by this Agreement and shall not be
amended or modified except by written agreement signed by both parties. No
significant provisions of this Agreement may be waived or discharged, unless
such waiver or discharge is in writing signed by the party who is making the
waiver or discharge. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach
by the other party hereto of, or compliance with, any condition or provision of
this Agreement to be performed by such other party shall be deemed a waiver of
any similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior
or subsequent time. In the event that this Agreement provides benefits upon
termination of your employment which duplicate benefits contained in any
employment arrangement with you, such arrangement shall automatically be amended
in accordance with this Agreement so that your benefits under this Agreement
shall be sole and exclusive to the extent to which they are duplicative. The
validity, interpretation, construction and performance of this Agreement shall
be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

     8.  VALIDITY

     The invalidity or unenforceability of any provisions of this Agreement
shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provisions of this
Agreement, which shall remain in full force and effect.

     9.  ARBITRATION; LEGAL EXPENSES

     Any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement shall be settled exclusively by arbitration in New York, New York, in
accordance with the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in
effect. Notwithstanding the pendency of any such dispute or controversy, the
Company will continue to pay you your base salary in effect when the notice
giving rise to the dispute was given, and will continue you as a participant in
all compensation, benefit and insurance plans in which you were participating
when the notice giving rise to the dispute was given, until the dispute is
finally resolved.

                                       10

<PAGE>

     The Company shall also pay all legal fees and expenses incurred by you as a
result of such termination (including all such fees and expenses, if any,
incurred in contesting or disputing any such termination or in seeking to obtain
or enforce any right or benefit provided by this Agreement), except such fees
and expenses incurred in connection with any frivolous claim or suit. All
amounts paid under this Section 9 are in addition to any other amounts due under
this Agreement and shall not be offset against or reduce any other amounts due
under this Agreement.

     Judgment may be entered on the arbitrator's award in any court having
jurisdiction; provided, however, that you shall be entitled to seek specific
performance of your right to be paid until the Date of Termination during the
pendency of any dispute or controversy arising under or in connection with this
Agreement.

     10.  RELEASE.

     You will be required to execute and deliver a valid and irrevocable release
of employment-related claims in the form provided by the Company in order to
receive any of your compensation or benefits pursuant to the terms of this
Agreement.

                                       11

<PAGE>

         If this, letter correctly sets forth our agreement on the subject
matter hereof, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copy of this
letter which will then constitute our agreement on this subject.

                                    Sincerely,

                                    INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY

                                    By:
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                         J. N. Carter
                                         SVP, Human Resources

Agreed:

_________________________________________
(First_Name)(Last_Name)
(TITLE)

Social Security Number: _________________

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