8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 26, 2007

BLUE RIDGE PAPER PRODUCTS INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	333-114032	56-2136509
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Registration Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)
41 Main Street, Canton, North Carolina		28716
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (828) 454-0676

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

ITEM 8.01.  OTHER EVENTS.

On March 26, 2007, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. issued a press release concerning preliminary discussions with The Rank Group regarding a potential transaction involving the sale of the company.  Attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99.1 is the press release.

ITEM 9.01.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(c) Exhibit 99.1 — Press Release dated March 26, 2007.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	BLUE RIDGE PAPER PRODUCTS INC.
Date: March 26, 2007	By:	/s/ John B. Wadsworth
		Name: John B. Wadsworth
		Title: Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press release dated March 26, 2007.

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Media Contact:

Bob Williams

828-454-0687

willib@BlueRidgePaper.com

BLUE RIDGE PAPER PRODUCTS INC. CONFIRMS PRELIMINARY DICUSSSIONS WITH THE RANK GROUP REGARDING A POTENTIAL TRANSACTION

Canton, NC (March 26, 2007) — Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc. (Bloomberg: bluerd) (“Blue Ridge”), a vertically integrated manufacturer of specialty paperboard packaging products and a broad range of specialty and commodity grades of paperboard and paper products, announced today that it is engaged in preliminary discussions with The Rank Group pursuant to a non-binding letter of intent regarding a potential transaction involving the sale of Blue Ridge.  The Rank Group is the owner of the Carter Holt Harvey Ltd. group of companies, headquartered in New Zealand, and Evergreen Packaging Inc. (formerly the Beverage Packaging Division of International Paper).  There can be no assurance that a definitive agreement will be reached by the parties or that a transaction will take place between Blue Ridge and the Rank Group now or in the future.  Blue Ridge does not intend to comment on or provide further updates regarding this matter unless and until circumstances warrant such disclosure.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document includes forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the fact that discussions are taking place with The Rank Group concerning a possible transaction, the continued advancement or termination of Blue Ridge’s discussions with The Rank Group relating to the potential transaction, or the affect on Blue Ridge’s business or prospects for success if the potential transaction is or is not consummated, and other statements, which are not historical facts. When used in this document, the words such as “could,” “plan,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “potential,” “should,” and similar expressions relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements.  Although Blue Ridge believes that its expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from these forward-looking statements include the fact that the proposed transaction may not be completed and other risks disclosed in Blue Ridge’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR.