Ahlstrom - Company Announcement

Ahlstrom closes down paper machine in Barcelona, Spain

Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 17.12.2009 at 14.15


Ahlstrom  Corporation, a leading manufacturer of nonwovens and specialty papers,
has concluded the cooperation procedure on a possible closure of a paper machine
for  filtration materials  at its  manufacturing plant  in Barcelona, Spain. The
negotiations  with  the  representatives  of  personnel were started on November
6, 2009, as  part of the Group restructuring program under way globally, and due
to  the  global  overcapacity  in  some  filtration  materials. The negotiations
concerned all employees of the plant excluding the sales office.

As  a result of the  negotiations, Ahlstrom has made  the decision to close down
the  paper machine. This  will result in  a reduction of 37 positions, impacting
both  blue-collar and  white-collar employees.  The layoffs  will be implemented
flexibly as from the end of the year.

The  non-recurring items related to the closure amount to approximately EUR 7.5
million, of which EUR 5.5 million are asset write-downs and EUR 2.0 million cash
related  items.  The  non-recurring  items  are  included in the total amount of
approximately  EUR 34 million announced to be booked in the financial results of
Ahlstrom Group in 2009.

The Barcelona plant employs 92 persons, of whom 10 work at the sales office. The
plant  produces filtration media for  transportation and liquid applications. In
addition  to the paper machine, the plant operates a saturator, slitter winders,
liquid converters and a warehouse, which are not impacted by the closure.

Despite the possible adjustments, the Barcelona plant will continue to supply
its local customers with the current product portfolio and service supported by
Ahlstrom's plants in Turin, Italy, and Mount Holly Springs, USA. The Turin plant
is the main manufacturing site of filtration materials for Ahlstrom's customers
in Europe, Middle East and Africa.


For further information, please contact:

Tommi Björnman
Senior Vice President, Filtration
Tel. +39 011 92 60 224
Mobile +39 349 441 1034

Seppo Parvi
CFO
Tel. +358 10 888 4768


Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com <http://www.ahlstrom.com_/>


Ahlstrom in brief

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 6,000 employees serve customers via sales offices
and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2008,
Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.8 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on
the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.




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