Helsinki, Finland, 22 October 2010 -- On 13 October 2010, Ahlstrom initiated an internal investigation on adherence to its code of conduct at its manufacturing plant in Mundra, India. The investigation deals with suspected unethical behavior in handling relationships with local authorities. Ahlstrom has a strict code of conduct globally, and the purpose of the investigation is to find out whether the code has been complied with in its Indian operations.

The investigation has been initiated as a result of issues raised during the writing of an article for the Finnish business magazine Talouselämä.

The investigation will be thorough and it will be carried out by an independent third party. Ahlstrom anticipates the investigation to last for a few weeks, and will comment on the results of the investigation in a separate press release.

Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture, and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company Web site is at www.ahlstrom.com.