Company Update

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): January 24, 2025     International Paper Company (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)     Commission file number 1-3157   New York   13-0872805 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)   6400 Poplar Avenue , Memphis , Tennessee   38197 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code) Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (901) 419-9000     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:   ☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)   ☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))   ☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:   Title of each class   Trading Symbol(s)   Name of each exchange on which registered Common Stock, $1 per share par value   IP   New York Stock Exchange Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). Emerging growth company ☐ If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐       Item 8.01. Other Events. On January 24, 2025, International Paper Company, a New York corporation (the “ Company ”) issued a press release announcing that the European Commission issued its conditional Phase I clearance with respect to the previously announced business combination between the Company and DS Smith Plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.   Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits. (d) Exhibits.   Exhibit No.    Description 99.1    Company Press Release, dated January 24, 2025 104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.       INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY Dated: January 24, 2025         By:   /s/ Joseph R. Saab     Name:   Joseph R. Saab     Title:   Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary