Sept. 25, 2008 – Verso Paper today said that it intends to take approximately 30,000 tons of downtime related to coated groundwood production during the fourth quarter of 2008.

Initially, approximately 9,000 tons of downtime will be taken at its Sartell Mill in Minnesota over a two-week period beginning on October 5, 2008, Verso said. The specific timing and facilities impacted to achieve the remainder of this curtailment will be determined during the fourth quarter.

This downtime is in addition to the approximately 13,000 tons of coated groundwood downtime that Verso took at its Bucksport Mill in Maine earlier in September.

“As we said back in July, we are committed to running our manufacturing operations in a manner to achieve a balance between our supply of paper and the demand for paper by our customers,” said Verso president and CEO Mike Jackson. “Based on what we currently see relative to demand and current inventory levels, this additional downtime will help us maintain that balance.”

SOURCE: Verso Paper Corp.