Stora Enso Acquires Polish State's Shares in Stora Enso Poland


Helsinki, Finland, 14 August 2007 -- Stora Enso has today acquired 28% of the shares in Stora Enso Poland (formerly Intercell S.A.) from the State of Poland at a price of EUR 64 million. Following this acquisition, Stora Enso holds 95% of the shares in the company. The remaining shares, owned by the Polish State, will be distributed to current and retired employees of Stora Enso Poland. Stora Enso intends to purchase these remaining shares as soon as feasible.

The total purchase cost of the initial 66% shareholding acquired in 2004 and today's acquisition is EUR 194 million. The enterprise value of the acquisition on a cash- and debt-free basis for the whole of Stora Enso Poland is approximately EUR 149 million. Stora Enso Poland's sales in 2006 were EUR 194 million.

"The demand for corrugated packaging in Central and Eastern Europe is increasing rapidly due to healthy economic growth and investment in manufacturing industries. We are currently considering the further expansion of our corrugated packaging operations in Poland, in order to consolidate Stora Enso's position as a leading supplier in the fast growing Polish market," says Veli-Jussi Potka, senior vice president of Stora Enso Packaging Board.

Ongoing analyses include a study into securing the containerboard supply for Stora Enso's corrugated packaging plants by possibly building a new containerboard machine. Stora Enso's Ostroleka mill site would provide one potential location for this, owing to its advantageous location including access to recycled raw material, which can be supplied by Stora Enso Recycling in Poland. The studies are expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

The Stora Enso Industrial Packaging business area is part of the Stora Enso Packaging Board division. The Industrial Packaging business area produces corrugated packaging, containerboards, cores and coreboard, laminating papers, paper sacks, and sack kraft paper.

Stora Enso Poland, which is part of the Stora Enso Industrial Packaging business area, operates paper and packaging businesses in Poland. Its Ostroleka mill has a capacity of 260,000 metric tons of containerboards, sack kraft paper, and MG paper per year. With its plants at Lodz, Tychy, Ostroleka, and Mosina, the company has an annual corrugated packaging capacity of 380 million square meters. Stora Enso Recycling collects 240,000 metric tons of fiber-based materials annually. Stora Enso Poland has 1800 employees.

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