BRUSSELS, and MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- International Paper announced today that it will close its Inverurie, Scotland, Mill by the end of March. A three-month employee consultation process failed to find a financially viable alternative future for the mill.

The closure removes 250,000 tonnes of uncoated freesheet capacity from International Paper's European output.

Commenting on the announcement, Mary Laschinger, president of International Paper Europe, Middle East, Africa and Russia, said:

"Over the last three months, we have worked hard together with the appropriate representatives to evaluate alternatives for the future of the mill. Unfortunately, none of the options provided a business plan that was financially viable and that would safeguard jobs.

"I am very saddened for our people and the local community that we had to come to this decision but we have acted in order to match our machine capacity to the paper volumes demanded by our customers.

"Our focus now is on helping our people make the transition into new employment and to continue our efforts, with government agencies and others, to market the site for future reindustrialisation."