NEW YORK (S&P Global Ratings) Dec. 3, 2020--International Paper Co. (IP; BBB/Stable/A-2) has announced that it plans to spin off its Printing Paper segment as a stand-alone, publicly traded company (SpinCo) toward the end of the third quarter of 2021. As part of the proposed transaction, IP expects to receive a dividend through a debt recapitalization of SpinCo and will retain an ownership stake in the company of up to 19.99%, which it intends to eventually monetize. Following the spin-off, IP will remain a sizeable player in the packaging industry and the largest company in the corrugated segment with pro forma sales of $17 billion. The company expects to realize between $350 million and $400 million of incremental earnings by