Uponor - Company Announcement

Uponor plans streamlining measures in Finland

Uponor Corporation          Stock exchange release        20 September 2013    
    10:00 EET 



Uponor plans streamlining measures in Finland

Uponor's subsidiaries Uponor Infra Oy and Uponor Suomi Oy, have today invited
their staff to co-determination negotiations, due to begin on Friday 27
September 2013 and to last a minimum of six weeks. 

With respect to Uponor Infra, the goal is to push through with the merger plan
begun in the summer. At that time, Uponor Corporation and the KWH Group
combined their infrastructure solutions operations into a new joint venture,
Uponor Infra Oy. The purpose of this merger is to achieve greater operational
efficiency and improved profitability, while continuing to offer customers
high-quality, competitive goods. Annual cost savings of around €10 million per
year are being sought through the merger. 

Through the co-determination negotiations, which will affect Finland, Uponor
Infra is now seeking means of achieving savings in order to improve the
profitability of its domestic operations. Possible measures may include
restructuring of production and the elimination of overlaps arising from the
merger. During the summer, Uponor Infra had already decided to close its sales
office in Denmark and to combine two factories in Sweden. 

“We are seeking efficiencies in order to secure the future, by developing our
level of customer service and improving profitability,” comments Sebastian
Bondestam, President, Uponor Infra Oy. 

Uponor Suomi Oy, which provides building solutions, is seeking savings and
efficiency measures in response to the downturn in the Finnish construction
sector. Both companies have the joint aim of reorganising their sales and
marketing organisations, for example. 

The co-determination negotiations will affect the entire staff and all employee
groups within the above-mentioned subsidiaries. This includes all employees of
Uponor Infra Oy and Uponor Suomi Oy, totally employing around 740 persons.
There is a possible need for 140 staff reductions, in addition to which
temporary lay-offs may be included in the adjustment measures. The management
of both companies believes that it may be possible to exclude some functions
from the scope of the negotiations once they are under way. 

Uponor Infra and Uponor Suomi have pipe production in Vaasa, Nastola, Ulvila
and Forssa, as well as smaller production units in Jyväskylä, Espoo and
Tuusula. Uponor Infra is under the ownership of Uponor Corporation (55.3 %) and
KWH Group (44.7 %). Uponor Suomi is a wholly owned subsidiary of Uponor
Corporation. The co-determination negotiations will not affect Uponor
Corporation's other companies in Finland. 


For further information, please contact:

Uponor Infra Oy: President Sebastian Bondestam, tel. +358 (0)20 129 2846
Uponor Suomi Oy: Managing Director Ville Ruohio, tel. +358 (0)20 129 2285
Uponor Corporation: Vice President, Communications Tarmo Anttila, tel. +358
(0)20 129 2852 



Uponor Corporation

Tarmo Anttila
Vice President, Communications



DISTRIBUTION
NASDAQ OMX - Helsinki
Media
www.uponor.com



Uponor is a leading international provider of plumbing and indoor climate
solutions for residential and commercial building markets across Europe and
North America. In Northern Europe, Uponor is also a prominent supplier of
infrastructure pipe systems. The Group employs approx. 3,000 persons, in 30
countries. In 2012, Uponor's net sales exceeded €810 million. Uponor
Corporation is listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki in Finland. http://www.uponor.com.