Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 25 July 2008 – Verso Paper Corp. (NYSE: VRS) today announced that it will take approximately two weeks of downtime at its Bucksport Mill in Maine, beginning 08 September 2008. The downtime will result in more than 13,000 tons of reduced coated groundwood production. Verso already has taken 19,000 tons of maintenance-related downtime this year.

“As always, we run our manufacturing operations so that we can achieve a balance between our supply of paper and the demand for paper by our customers,” said Verso President and CEO Mike Jackson. “We believe that this downtime will help us keep our supply and demand in balance.”

Based in Memphis, Tennessee, Verso Paper Corp. is a leading North American producer of coated papers, including coated groundwood and coated freesheet, and supercalendered 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 at www.versopaper.com.