2007-04-30 14:15:35 CEST

2007-04-30 14:15:35 CEST


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Ahlstrom - Company Announcement

Ahlstrom's acquisition of Orlandi's spunlace nonwovens business confirmed


Ahlstrom, a global leader in high performance fiber-based
materials, today announced the completion of the acquisition of
Orlandi's spunlace nonwovens business in Italy.
The acquisition, initially announced in February 2007, will
further strengthen Ahlstrom's position one as of the leading
producers of nonwoven roll goods for wipes globally. The
acquisition price is approximately EUR 60 million and the
transaction is expected to be EPS enhancing from 2007.

The acquired business includes two plants with four production
lines in Cressa and Gallarate in Northern Italy, close to Milan.
The plants employ approximately 120 people.

Orlandi's business expands Ahlstrom's technology portfolio with
airlace technology which is used to manufacture pulp-containing
wiping fabrics. The acquired business will generate annualized net
sales of approximately EUR 65 million in 2007.

Orlandi is currently one of the leading wiping fabrics producers
in Europe, serving the personal, household and industrial wipes
markets. In addition, the acquired business manufactures medical
and industrial spunlace fabrics.

"The deal is in line with our strategy to serve our customers
globally. Currently, Ahlstrom has a strong presence in the wipes
markets in the USA. This acquisition both expands our product
offering of pulp-containing wiping fabrics and allows us to enter
the growing European wipes markets", says Jukka Moisio, President
and CEO of Ahlstrom.

On March 30, 2007 Ahlstrom announced the acquisition of the
consumer wipes business of Fiberweb plc with three plants in
Europe and one in the USA. Following the deal, Ahlstrom will be
the leading wiping fabrics producer in the world. The company
anticipates to close the acquisition of Fiberweb's consumer wipes
business during the second quarter of 2007.

Ahlstrom is also expanding its wiping fabrics production to South
America by investing in a new production line in Brazil. The new
line is expected to be operational in early 2008.


For further information, please contact:
Jukka Moisio, President and CEO, Ahlstrom Corporation, tel. +358
10 888 4700
Claudio Ermondi, Senior Vice President, Nonwovens, tel. +39 348
8600 9883

Distribution:
Helsinki Stock Exchange
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com



Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and
marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and
specialty papers, made by Ahlstrom, are used in a large variety of
everyday products, e.g. in filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and
tapes. The company has a strong market position in several
business areas in which it operates, built upon the company's
unique fiber expertise and innovative approach. Ahlstrom's 5,700
employees serve customers via sales offices and production
facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2006,
Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share
is listed on the Helsinki Stock change. The company website is
www.ahlstrom.com.