Metsäliitto Osuuskunta - Company Announcement

The Market Court has upheld the infringement fine recommendation of the Finnish Competition Authority

Metsäliitto Group Stock Exchange release 3 December 2009 at 4.07 p.m.

The Market Court has upheld the infringement fine recommendation of
the Finnish Competition Authority

The Competition Authority initiated its investigations in spring 2004
by conducting inspections, without notice, at the premises of
Metsäliitto Cooperative and Stora Enso Oyj, after receiving a
leniency application from UPM-Kymmene Oyj. In December 2006, the
Competition Authority proposed to the Market Court that it would
impose an infringement fine of EUR 30 million on Stora Enso and EUR
21 million on the Metsäliitto Cooperative. According to the
Competition Authority, the conduct of these companies constituted a
serious restriction of competition during 1997- to 2004 by agreeing
on the prices of raw wood and exchanging confidential information
related to the wood trade.

Today, the Market Court upheld the recommendations of the Competition
Authority and imposed an infringement fine of EUR 21 million on
Metsäliitto Cooperative for breach of the competition legislation.
The infringement fine imposed on Stora Enso amounts to EUR 30
million.

The Market Court held that the companies were guilty of prohibited
co-operation between competitors. According to the Market Court the
co-operation between the forestry companies was aimed at keeping the
price development of raw wood relatively stable. The ruling of the
Market Court is contrary to the argument presented by Metsäliitto
that the exchange of information and the discussion of non-binding
pricing expectations amounted to only a mild breach of competition
rules.

Metsäliitto Cooperative will examine the Market Court's ruling before
determining whether it will appeal to the Supreme Administrative
Court.

Further information:
Esa Kaikkonen, General Counsel, Metsäliitto Group, tel. +358 10 465
4749
Anne-Mari Achrén, Group CCO, Metsäliitto Group, tel. +358 10 465 4541