Aspo - Company Announcement

ESL Shipping responds to increased demand by time-chartering a new vessel

Aspo Plc   STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE  November  21, 2013 at 09:00

ESL Shipping Ltd, part of Aspo Group, responds to its increased sea transport
demand by time-chartering dry bulk carrier m/s Nassauborg until next summer.
Sailing under the Dutch flag, the 1A ice-strengthened 20,000 ton vessel is well-
suited to complement ESL Shipping's existing fleet within the same size range.
All of the company's vessels are capable of operating in the Baltic Sea and
other northern ice areas.

The increase in capacity allows the company to serve new clients and also to
expand the service range geographically through its entire fleet. At the same
time, the future winter transportation of the company's long-term contractual
customers can be better secured under ice conditions."This time charter indicates ESL Shipping's ability to rapidly respond to
changes in customer demand," says Aki Ojanen, CEO of Aspo Group. "We have the
possibility to continue the charter after the current period, depending on the
prevailing demand."

ESL Shipping transports dry bulk materials, mainly in the Baltic Sea region; in
2012, approximately 10.4 million tons. The cargo mainly consists of ore, coal
and limestone. The shipping company's fleet consists of 15 vessels, including
m/s Nassauborg, of which it owns 12 in full. Two are leased and one is partially
owned.

ASPO Plc

Aki Ojanen
CEO

Further information:
Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping Ltd, phone +358 9 5211 or
+358 50 3517791, mikki.koskinen@eslshipping.com

DISTRIBUTION:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Key media
www.aspo.com

Aspo is a conglomerate that owns and develops business operations in the
Northern Europe and growth markets 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.


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