Aspo - Company Announcement

LARGEST VESSEL ORDER IN ASPO ESL SHIPPING'S HISTORY

ASPO Plc     STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE    May 10, 2010 at 8:00 a.m.

ESL Shipping Oy, a subsidiary of Aspo Plc, has ordered two new ice-strengthened
dry bulk cargo vessels from the Korean Hyundai Mipo Dockyard Co. Ltd, which is
one of the world's leading shipbuilders. The new vessels are clearly bigger than
ESL Shipping's existing vessels, 56,150 dwt supramax class vessels. The total
value of the investment is about EUR 60 million. The vessels, which meet the ice
class 1A, have been tailored for ESL Shipping and will be delivered in the first
half of 2012.

Aspo Group's financial position enables the vessel investment which is financed
with cash flow financing as well as debt financing."With its largest vessel investment ever, Aspo is increasing the competitiveness
of its shipping company. For us, the turbulence in the global economy has had a
positive effect on new building prices on ships, so now is the right time to
invest and strengthen the position of the Baltic Sea's leading dry cargo
shipping company on the growing cargo markets. Changes in tonnage tax
legislation have also affected our decisions and we remain confident that the
changes to the legislation will be implemented in accordance with the wishes of
the Finnish parliament," explains Aki Ojanen, Aspo's CEO.

Capacity will grow by over 50 percent"The Baltic Sea cargo markets will continue growing as the economic development
in the area recovers. Simultaneously the need to transport raw materials around
the year with ever growing vessels is increasing. We are increasing our capacity
by over 50 percent, which means that we can improve and expand the service we
offer our existing customers. At the same time, we can participate in new
projects where transportation reliability around the year is crucial. The new
self-unloading vessels with ice-strengthening are unique in their size class. In
the planning, we have paid particular attention to environmental issues and
therefore the vessels will include, for instance, ballast water treatment
equipment. Ice model testing will be carried out at Aker Arctic's laboratory in
Helsinki," says Markus Karjalainen, CEO of ESL Shipping.

ESL Shipping transports dry raw material mainly in the Baltic Sea region; in
2009, approximately 11 million tons. The steel industry's share of transports
was 53 percent, and the energy industry represented 43 percent. The shipping
company's fleet consists of 18 vessels, of which it owns 14 in full. Three
are time-chartered and one is partially owned. The total capacity is
approximately 215,000 tons. In addition, the shipping company will also receive
a new 20,000 dwt vessel in the fall of 2010. The vessel has been ordered from
India.

ASPO Plc

Aki Ojanen
CEO

For more information:
Aki Ojanen, CEO, Aspo Plc, +358 9 521 4010, +358 400 106 592
aki.ojanen@aspo.com <mailto:aki.ojanen@aspo.com>
Markus Karjalainen, CEO, ESL Shipping Oy, +358 400 888 020
markus.karjalainen@eslshipping.com <mailto:markus.karjalainen@eslshipping.com>

INVITATION: PRESS AND ANALYSTS CONFERENCE

A press and analysts conference concerning the vessel investment will be
arranged today, Monday, May 10, 2010, at 11.30 am at the Akseli Gallen-Kallela
cabinet at Hotel Kämp, Pohjoisesplanadi 29, 00100 Helsinki. For more
information: Jamima Löfström, phone +358 9 521 4050 orjamima.lofstrom@aspo.com<mailto:jamima.lofstrom@aspo.com>.

Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops business operations in the Baltic
Sea region focusing on demanding B-to-B customers. Our strong company brands -
ESL Shipping, Leipurin, Telko and Kaukomarkkinat - aim to be the market leaders
in their sectors. They are responsible for their own operations, customer
relationships and the development of these. Together they generate Aspo's
goodwill. Aspo's Group structure and business operations are continually
developed without any predefined schedules

Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Key media
www.aspo.com <http://www.aspo.com/>









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