Verso Paper Corp. to Transition No. 1 Paper Machine at Bucksport Mill in Maine to Lightweight Specialty Paper

The scale and configuration of the Bucksport Mill's No. 1 paper machine, including the gate roll pre-coater and off-machine coater, along with the availability of both groundwood and kraft fiber, provide the flexibility that Verso needs to successfully supply a wide array of value-added specialty papers. This move also shifts this machine, which operates currently as a higher cost coated groundwood machine, to a highly competitive machine in the various specialty products that it will now produce. Verso has been developing and producing numerous specialty paper products on the Bucksport Mill's No. 1 paper machine over several months and has completed successful field qualifications.

Said Verso President and CEO Mike Jackson, "Transitioning the No. 1 paper machine at our Bucksport Mill to specialty papers will provide a strategic opportunity for Verso to reposition this valuable asset to achieve its optimal profit potential and strategically falls within our core competencies of producing lightweight and ultra-lightweight products, along with flexible coating capability. By contributing to the future success of the Bucksport Mill, this move will benefit our stockholders, customers and employees."

Verso's coated groundwood customers whose paper is currently produced on the No. 1 paper machine at the Bucksport Mill will experience a seamless transition as the manufacture of their product is moved to other paper machines in the Verso mill system. "Our customers will not see any effect from this transition," Jackson said. "They will continue to receive the same high level of quality and service that they have come to expect from Verso."

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this press release, including, without limitation, statements made under the caption "About Verso Paper" are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. In addition, our management may from time to time make oral forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "plan," "estimate," "will" or "intend" and similar expressions. The forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are based on our currently available financial, economic and competitive data and on current business plans. Actual results could vary materially depending on risks and uncertainties that may affect our operations, markets, services, prices and other factors. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, economic factors such as an interruption in the supply of or increased pricing of raw materials, competitive factors such as pricing actions by our competitors that could affect our operating margins, and regulatory factors such as changes in governmental regulations involving our products that lead to environmental and legal matters.

About Verso Paper

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper Corp. is a leading North American producer of coated papers, including coated groundwood and coated freesheet, and supercalendered and specialty products. Verso's paper products are used primarily in media and marketing applications, including magazines, catalogs and commercial printing applications such as high-end advertising brochures, annual reports and direct-mail advertising. Additional information about Verso is available on our Web site at www.versopaper.com.

SOURCE: Verso Paper Corp.

Verso Paper Corp. Robert P. Mundy, 901-369-4128 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer robert.mundy@versopaper.com www.versopaper.com