International Paper

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International Paper Company

Type	Public
Founded	1898
Headquarters	Memphis, Tennessee
Key people	John V. Faraci, CEO & Chairman
Products	Paper & Paper products
Employees	83,000
Website	www.internationalpaper.com/

International Paper (NYSE: IP) is an American pulp and paper company, the largest pulp and paper company in the world and the largest private owner of timberland in the United States. It has approximately 83,000 employees. Its global headquarters are currently in Memphis, Tennessee.

International Paper was formed in January 1898 by the merger of 17 pulp and paper mills in the northeastern U.S. Through acquisitions and capital investment, the company grew both in the United States and internationally. In 1986 it acquired the HammerMill Paper Company, in 1988 the Masonite Corporation, and in 1989 the German paper company Zanders Feinpapiere AG and the French paper manufacturer Aussedat Rey. In addition International Paper has shareholdings in the Chilean company Copec.

International Paper is the largest producer of plastic lids and cups, manufacturing for the fast-food giants McDonalds, Wendys, and Subway. They also produce printer and copier paper.

International Paper is a former Dow Jones Industrial Average component, listed in the index from July 3, 1956 to April 7, 2004. It was one of three components to be replaced in the 2004 change with AT&T and Eastman Kodak.

Beginning February 1, 2007 the sale of the beverage packaging division will be completed as New Zealand billionaire Graham Hart won the bid with nearly an 800 million dollar purchase. The company will then operate under the Evergreen label. The completed sale will eliminate a big part of the international paper business, but will generate cash to help eliminate debt in the company.