Helsinki, Finland, 21 December 2009 -- Stora Enso has decided to refrain from appealing to the Supreme Administrative Court against the ruling of the Finnish Market Court on collaboration and exchange of information with other forest products companies concerning prices for purchasing roundwood in Finland from 1997 to 2004. However, the Group emphasises that this does not mean the ruling of the Finnish Market Court is right in Stora Enso's opinion.

The Finnish Market Court ordered Stora Enso to pay a EUR 30 million penalty for collaboration and exchange of information with other forest products companies concerning prices for purchasing roundwood in Finland from 1997 to 2004. In its ruling issued on 03 December 2009, the Finnish Market Court found that Stora Enso, UPM-Kymmene, and Metsäliitton Cooperative had infringed the Act on Competition Restrictions by exchanging detailed information. In the opinion of  the Market Court, no specification of the economic benefit of the infringement  of competition restrictions had been presented.

Stora Enso will record a EUR 30 million negative nonrecurring item related to the penalty in its fourth quarter 2009 results.

Stora Enso is a world leader in forest industry sustainability. The company offers its customers solutions based on renewable raw materials. Its products provide a climate-friendly alternative to many nonrenewable materials, and have a smaller carbon footprint. Stora Enso is included in the Global 100 list of the world's most sustainable companies. Stora Enso also is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, the FTSE4Good Index, and the Climate Disclosure Leadership Index.

Stora Enso employs 29,000 people worldwide, and had sales in 2008 of EUR 11.0 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the United States as ADRs (SEOAY) in the International OTCQX over-the-counter market.