newpylong wrote:The ink on the closing wasn't even dry before they began scrapping it - it was preordained. Nuking the mill was a move for a streamlined New Page approval in many people's mind. Of course the judge was not in on it, it was not illegal, just fishy.
However, unless you were sitting in that office making the decision this is all conjecture.
My point is the mill already was in jeopardy for years of neglect, poor logistical apparatus, and high re-development value. So it likely was a lever to push things along on the NP merger, but in the grand scheme of things that place needed a lot of capital investment and a railroad who cared to run down to remain competitive. Also, the product portfolio would have needed to been completely revamped (look at the new products mills are making, packaging & presentation grades, tissue & consumer papers, and pulp), so again, significant capital outlay. Who's to say Verso didn't already spend months looking for a buyer before the decision to pull the plug and acquire NP?