2011-08-04 11:03:20 CEST

2011-08-04 11:04:19 CEST


BIRTINGARSKYLDAR UPPLÝSNINGAR

Finnska Enska
Metsäliitto Osuuskunta - Interim report (Q1 and Q3)

Metsäliitto Group Interim Report 1-6/2011


Metsäliitto Group Interim Report 1-6/2011, Stock Exhange Release 4 August 2011
at noon 


Metsäliitto Group's operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 249
million 


Result in the first half of 2011
- Sales amounted to EUR 2,806 million (1-6/2010: EUR 2,641 million).
- Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 249 million (250).
Operating result including non-recurring items was EUR 185 million (246). 
- Result before taxes and excluding non-recurring items was EUR 181 million
(185). Including non-recurring items, the result before taxes was EUR 113
million (165). 


Result in the second quarter of 2011
- Sales amounted to EUR 1,403 million (4-6/2010: EUR 1,416 million).
- Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 119 million (154).
Operating result including non-recurring items was EUR 51 million (141). 
- Result before taxes and excluding non-recurring items was EUR 95 million
(130). Including non-recurring items, the result before taxes was EUR 24
million (102). 


Events in the second quarter of 2011
- Metsä Tissue announced an extensive investment programme in Poland.
- Metsä-Botnia redeemed 6.7 per cent of its own shares from UPM-Kymmene Oyj.
- M-real's Simpele folding boxboard mill's annual capacity was increased by
80,000 tonnes. 
- M-real announced it will sell the Hallein pulp mill in Austria.
- M-real signed an agreement on the sale of its 35 per cent ownership share in
Myllykoski Paper Oy. 
- M-real announced plans to eliminate losses at the Gohrsmühle and Reflex mills
in Germany and the Alizay paper mill in France. 


“We continued to reinforce the business operations through planned investments
and business arrangements. Successful price increases and internal measures to
increase efficiency decreased the negative impacts of increasing costs on
Group's result. Worsening of paper and pulp markets and general uncertainty in
the economy weaken the outlook for the third quarter.” 

Kari Jordan, President & CEO, Metsäliitto Group



Metsäliitto Group


Income statement                      2011    2010    2011    2010    2010
(Continuing operations)                1-6     1-6      Q2      Q2    1-12
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                2 806   2 641   1 403   1 416   5 377
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other operating income                  49      47      20      16     142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses                  -2 482  -2 304  -1 255  -1 231  -4 686
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and impairment losses    -189    -138    -117     -60    -336
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result                       185     246      51     141     497
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share of results in associates           3     -13       3      -7     -15
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange gains and losses                0       0       1       2      -7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other net financial items              -75     -68     -31     -34    -129
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result before income tax               113     165      24     102     345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes                           -60     -63     -33     -40    -131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result from continuing operations       53     102      -9      62     214
--------------------------------------------------------------------------



Metsäliitto Group


Profitability                                 2011   2010   2011   2010   2010
(Continuing operations)                        1-6    1-6     Q2     Q2   1-12
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result, EUR mill.                    185    246     51    141    497
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- “ -, excluding non-recurring items           249    250    119    154    547
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- “ - % of sales                               8.9    9.5    8.5   10.9   10.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on capital employed, %                  9.4   11.4    5.5   13.4   11.8
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ” -, excluding non-recurring items          12.8   12.4   12.5   16.2   13.4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return on equity, %                            6.3   13.7   -2.2   16.3   13.9
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ” -, excluding non-recurring items          14.4   16.4   14.5   23.8   18.2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financial position                            2011   2010   2011   2010   2010
                                              30.6   30.6   31.3   31.3  31.12
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity ratio, %                               30.9   27.6   30.4   27.1   29.7
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net gearing ratio, %                           121    135    112    151    116
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interest-bearing net liabilities, EUR mill.  2 051  2 109  1 933  2 241  1 939
------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Business Areas

Sales and Operating result           Wood     Wood     Pulp     Board     Tissue
January-June 2011                  Supply  Product  Industr       and        and
(EUR mill.)                                      s        y     Paper    Cooking
                                           Industr           Industry     Papers
                                                 y                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                 770      502      678     1 345        478
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other operating income                  4        3       11        37          5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses                   -758     -476     -476    -1 257       -453
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation &             -1      -16      -32      -111        -20
 impairment losses                                                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result                       15       13      181        14         10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-recurring items                     -        -        4        61          -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result, excl. non-rec.       15       13      185        75         10
 items                                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- % of sales                          1.9      2.6     27.2       5.6        2.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




The interim report is unaudited

METSÄLIITTO GROUP

INTERIM REPORT 1 JANUARY-30 JUNE 2011


Sales and result
Metsäliitto Group's sales for January-June were EUR 2,806 million (1-6/2010:
EUR 2,641 million). Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 249
million (250), or 8.9 per cent of the sales (9.5). 

Net non-recurring items were EUR -64 million, of which income accounted for EUR
11 million and expenses accounted for EUR 75 million. The non-recurring income
was primarily generated by the sale of land areas. EUR 49 million of the
non-recurring expenses is associated with the sale of M-real's Hallein mill and
EUR 22 million is associated with the write-downs and provisions of the
Gohrsmühle and Reflex paper mills. 

Sales in the second quarter of the year were EUR 1,403 million (4-6/2010:
1,416). Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 119 million
(154), or 8.5 per cent of the sales (10.9). Operating result including
non-recurring items was EUR 51 million (141). 

Operating result including non-recurring items in January-June was EUR 185
million (246). Financial income was EUR 5 million (3) and financial expenses
were EUR 80 million (71). During the first quarter, dividends of approximately
EUR 9 million paid on Metsä-Botnia's shares under the obligation to redeem were
recognised in financial expenses. 

The results from associates were EUR 3 million (-13). The figure includes a
non-recurring impairment loss of approximately EUR 4 million (16) associated
with the sale of M-real's 35 per cent ownership share and subordinated loan in
Myllykoski Paper Oy. 

The result for the period before taxes was EUR 113 million (165) and taxes,
including changes in deferred tax liability, were EUR 60 million (63). The net
result for the period was EUR 53 million (102). 

Excluding non-recurring items, the Group's return on capital employed was 12.8
per cent (12.4) and return on equity was 14.4 per cent (16.4). Including
non-recurring items, the return on capital employed was 9.4 per cent (11.4) and
return on equity was 6.3 per cent (13.7). 


Balance sheet and financing
Metsäliitto Group's total liquidity was EUR 852 million at the end of June (31
December 2010: 1,054). This consisted of EUR 301 million (440) of liquid assets
and investments and EUR 551 million (614) of binding credit facility agreements
not included in the balance sheet. In addition, the Group can satisfy
short-term financial needs with non-binding commercial paper schemes in Finland
and abroad, as well as with credit limits amounting to approximately EUR 0.5
billion. 

The Group's equity ratio at the end of June was 30.9 per cent and net gearing
was 121 per cent (31 December 2010: 29.7 per cent and 116 per cent,
respectively). Interest-bearing net liabilities stood at EUR 2,051 million (31
December 2010: 1,939). 

The equity ratio of the parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative was 62.3 per
cent at the end of June and net gearing was 37 per cent (31 December 2010: 58.6
per cent and 45 per cent, respectively). 

During January-June, Metsäliitto's members' capitals increased by a total of
EUR 43.0 million. The actual members' capital grew by EUR 2.9 million, the
additional members' capital A by EUR 29.6 million and the additional members'
capital B by EUR 10.5 million. EUR 14.0 million of the additional members'
capital fell due on 

1 July 2011 (1 July 2010: EUR 35.6 million).

M-real's Annual General Meeting decided to reduce the share premium account in
operating capital, as stated on the parent company's balance sheet on 31
December 2010, by transferring all funds in the account, or approximately EUR
664 million, to the company's non-restricted equity reserve. The reduction of
the share premium account will take place without consideration and it does not
impact the company's number of shares, the rights conferred by the shares, or
the proportionate ownership of the shareholders. The reduction will become
effective after the completion of the creditor protection procedure referred to
in the Limited Liability Companies Act, estimated to be completed in August
2011. With the reduction, the prerequisites for future distribution of profits
will be improved. 


Personnel
The Group employed an average of 13,229 people during the first half of the
year (1-6/2010: 13,098). At the end of June, the number of personnel in the
Group was 13,581 (31 December 2010: 12,820). The parent company Metsäliitto
Cooperative employed 2,965 people at the end of June (31 December 2010: 2,495). 


Members
At the end of the review period, the Metsäliitto Cooperative had 125,586
members (31 December 2010: 126,382). Since the beginning of the year, 947 new
members have joined the Cooperative and 1,743 members have resigned. 


Investments
Metsäliitto Group's capital expenditure totalled EUR 102 million (42).

Metsä-Botnia's investments underway are progressing as scheduled. Kemi's new
causticisation and water stations will be introduced in the last quarter of the
year. The construction of a bark gasification plant that will improve the use
of bioenergy has begun in Joutseno, and the new plant will be introduced by the
end of 2012. 

M-real's expansion investment at the Simpele folding boxboard mill was
completed. The investment increased the mill's annual capacity by 80,000
tonnes. In addition, M-real announced its plans to invest approximately EUR 30
million in expanding the annual folding boxboard capacity at the Äänekoski and
Kyröskoski mills by a total of approximately 70,000 tonnes. The Kyröskoski
investment will be carried out at the end of 2011, and the Äänekoski investment
in the spring of 2012. 

Metsä Tissue launched an extensive investment programme in Poland. The
three-year programme includes, among other things, the construction of two new
tissue paper machines and an upgrading line at the Krapkowice mill, the rebuild
of one paper machine, and infrastructure development. The total value of the
investment programme is nearly EUR 60 million, and it will enable Metsä Tissue
to increase its annual production capacity of tissue paper in Poland by 35,000
tonnes. 


New ownership shares in Metsä-Botnia
Metsä-Botnia redeemed its own shares from UPM on the basis of a shareholder
agreement signed by Metsä-Botnia's shareholders in 2009. The number of the
shares to be redeemed equalled 6.7 per cent of the company's entire share
capital, and the redemption price was approximately EUR 140 million. The
arrangement became effective on 30 June 2011. 

After the redemption, Metsäliitto Cooperative owns 56.8 per cent of
Metsä-Botnia, M-real owns 32.2 per cent and UPM 11.0 per cent. The arrangement
does not have a significant impact on Metsäliitto Group's key figures. 

In the same context, UPM also granted Metsäliitto Group an option to buy the
remaining Metsä-Botnia shares it owns. The option will be valid for two years,
and the agreed share price for executing the option is approximately EUR 150
million. 


Structural changes
In June, M-real signed an agreement on the sale of the entire share capital of
M-real Hallein GmbH to Scweighofer Group. The agreement covers the Hallein pulp
mill, the biopower plant, the paper mill closed in 2009 and the surrounding
estate. The completion of the arrangement is subject to the approval by
Austria's competition authorities and estimated to be completed in the third
quarter of 2011. 

In May, M-real announced it will divest the entire Gohrsmühle mill in Germany
or alternatively parts of the mill based on a Paper Park concept. Concurrently,
M-real launched a process to discontinue the production of uncoated fine paper
and unprofitable speciality papers at the Gohrsmühle mill in case the sales
alternatives do not materialise. If the planned closings are implemented,
M-real will focus on cast coated label and packaging products (Chromolux) at
the Gohrsmühle mill. M-real is also planning to discontinue the remaining
business operations, or refining carbonless paper converting operations, at the
Reflex mill. 

In May, M-real initiated a public process to find credible candidates to
acquire the Alizay paper mill by the end of September 2011. Should M-real fail
to divest the Alizay paper mill within the given timeframe, the plan is to
close down the mill. 

On the whole, according to preliminary estimates made in May, the measures
being planned for Alizay, Gohrsmühle and Reflex will have a non-recurring
negative result impact of approximately EUR 170 million. The estimated net cash
expenses are EUR 50 million. The estimates on financial impacts are preliminary
and will be specified as the final decisions on the planned measures have been
made. In the second quarter EUR 22 million was booked as non-recurring
write-downs and provisions of the Gohrsmühle and Reflex paper mills. 


Business areas

Wood Supply
Wood Supply sales for January-June were EUR 770 million (1-6/2010: 670) and
operating result was EUR 15 million (15). The operating result does not include
non-recurring items. Wood Supply Finland accounted for EUR 521 million (463) of
the sales and EUR 9 million (8) of the operating result. 

Sales in the second quarter were EUR 394 million (4-6/2010: 337) and operating
result was EUR 7 million (8). 

Wood sales, which were sluggish in the first months of the year, picked up in
May. Metsäliitto's purchase volume from privately owned forests was near the
target level in the second quarter. Harvesting conditions were good, and stands
marked for felling were harvested as planned. Wood deliveries also worked as
planned. Metsäliitto Wood Supply's delivery volume to production units in the
first half of the year was 15.5 million cubic metres (14.7). 

Plenty of wood was available in Russia. In the Baltic countries, the wood
volume from state-owned forests was steady in the first half of the year, and
in addition, wood sales from private forests started up. Wood sales in Sweden
also picked up in the second quarter. 

The development of Metsäliitto's member services continued. June marked the
release of a new service, an online store for members eligible for wood sales
bonuses. 

The result of the Cooperative's Representative Council election was published
in May, and the four-year term of the Representative Council and the district
committees began on 1 July. 


Wood Products Industry
Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry's sales in January-June were EUR 502 million
(1-6/2010: 448) and operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 13
million (11). Operating result including non-recurring items was EUR 13 million
(10). 

Sales in the second quarter were EUR 264 million (4-6/2010: 256) and operating
result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 8 million (11). 

Compared to the same period last year, there was substantial business growth in
all customer segments during the first six months of the year. Internal
measures ensured that profitability remained at a reasonable level. 

The market balance for sawn timber continued to be weak in the second quarter.
In further processed products, the economic uncertainty and consumers cutting
back on their spending also taxed the demand. 

Investments in further processed products and the focus on different industrial
segments improved the profitability of engineered wood products compared to the
previous year. The profitability of construction products also improved,
although sales in the second quarter were weaker than expected. 


Pulp
During the first half of the year, Metsä-Botnia's sales increased by 3 per cent
compared with the corresponding period last year, amounting to EUR 678 million
(1-6/2010: 656). Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 185
million (167). Including non-recurring items, the operating result was EUR 181
million (169). 

The price development of pulp, which had been positive for a long period, kept
Metsä-Botnia's profitability at a good level. Foreign currency-denominated
market prices of softwood pulp were, on average, 9 per cent higher in the first
half of the year compared with the corresponding period last year. The average
prices of hardwood pulp increased by 5 per cent. 

Metsä-Botnia's sales in the second quarter were EUR 339 million (4-6/2010:
368). Operating result excluding non-recurring items totalled EUR 89 million
(110). 

Demand and supply of softwood pulp were for the most part in balance in the
second quarter, but at the end of the review period, the suppliers' pulp
inventories grew as supply exceeded demand. Customers' hardwood pulp inventory
levels were high in the Asian markets in particular. 

The utilisation rates of the Metsä-Botnia mills were for the most part good in
the second quarter, which resulted in exceeded production targets at the
beginning of the period. However, the utilisation rates declined due to process
issues at the end of the period. The annual shutdowns planned for the spring
were postponed to the autumn due to the labour market disturbance that lasted
almost two months. 


Board and Paper
Board and Paper's sales in January-June were EUR 1,345 million (1-6/2010:
1,278) and operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 75 million
(82). 

The operating result was weakened by the increase in the prices of wood,
chemicals and energy. In addition, the strengthening of the Swedish krona and
the weakening of the US dollar against the euro had a negative impact. The
operating result was improved by the average sales prices which were
significantly higher than last year. 

Sales in the second quarter were EUR 660 million (4-6/2010: 676) and operating
result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 32 million (43). 

Net non-recurring items were EUR -61 million in January-June, of which income
accounted for EUR 10 million and expenses accounted for EUR 71 million. The
non-recurring gain was primarily generated by the sale of land areas. EUR 49
million of the non-recurring expenses is associated with the sale of M-real's
Hallein mill and EUR 22 million is associated with the write-downs and
provisions of the Gohrsmühle and Reflex paper mills. 

Operating result including non-recurring items was EUR 14 million (84). Net
interest and other financial expenses were EUR 34 million (33) and the exchange
gains and losses recognised in financial items were EUR 2 million (-6). 

The results from associates were EUR -4 million (-20). The figure includes a
non-recurring impairment loss of approximately 
EUR 4 million (16) associated with the sale of M-real's 35 per cent ownership
share and capital loan in Myllykoski Paper Oy. 

Excluding non-recurring items, the result before taxes for the period was EUR
44 million (39), earnings per share were EUR 0.11 (0.08) and the return on
capital employed was 7.2 per cent (7.3). Including non-recurring items, the
result before taxes was EUR -22 million (25), earnings per share were EUR -0.09
(0.03) and the return on capital employed 1.4 per cent (6.1). 

At the end of June, M-real's equity ratio was 33.9 per cent and net gearing was
84 per cent (31 December 2010: 32.1 per cent and 83 per cent, respectively).
Some of M-real's loan agreements set a 120 per cent limit on the company's net
gearing and a 30 per cent limit on the equity ratio. At the end of June, net
gearing calculated in the manner defined in the borrowing agreements was
approximately 64 per cent and the equity ratio about 40 per cent. 

M-real Corporation's own interim report is published on 4 August 2011 at 12:00.


Tissue and Cooking Papers
The January-June sales of Metsä Tissue, producer of tissue and cooking papers,
totalled EUR 478 million (456). The increase in sales was primarily due to the
structure of sales as well as exchange rate fluctuations. The sales of own
brands increased by 10 per cent compared to the corresponding period in the
previous year. 

Operating result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 10 million (31).
Including non-recurring items, the operating result was EUR 10 million (24).
The prices of pulp, recycled fibre and other raw materials and energy continued
to increase, and therefore the operating result was weaker than that in the
corresponding period last year. The additional expenses related to the launch
of production at the Düren mill in Germany also burdened the operating result. 

Sales in the second quarter were EUR 237 million (4-6/2010: 231) and operating
result excluding non-recurring items was EUR 3 million (12). 

Metsä Tissue's investment programme at the Düren mill is progressing on
schedule. The rebuild of paper machine 5 and the production facilities were
completed and the upgrading lines were started. The mill focuses solely on the
production of baking and cooking papers marketed under the SAGA brand. 

Metsä Tissue's three-year investment programme at the Krapkowice mill in Poland
has progressed to the construction stage. The programme published in April
includes the construction of two new paper machines and an upgrading line, a
rebuild of one paper machine and infrastructure development. 

In June, Metsä Tissue signed an exclusive licence agreement with
Georgia-Pacific. The licence agreement authorises Metsä Tissue to manufacture,
sell and market Lotus soft tissue products aimed at consumers in Russia. The
transaction is planned for completion at the end of the third quarter. The
sales of Lotus consumer products in Russia were approximately EUR 20 million
last year. 

In Finland, Lambi launched a toilet paper grade with a new embossing and a
thicker and softer paper quality. Katrin introduced a new plastic-free Green
Spa sauna seat cover which is the world's first completely biodegradable sauna
seat. It was also awarded the Nordic Swan label endorsement. Furthermore,
Mola's and Tento‘s product grades were renewed. 


Events after the period
M-real's negotiations to divest its Premium Papers business to a sister company
of German Papierwerke Lenk AG were suspended until further notice at the
beginning of July. The parties are evaluating possibilities to continue the
negotiations at a later date, and M-real is also considering other options to
divest its Premium Papers business. 

The feasibility study of a biodiesel plant planned by Metsäliitto and Vapo is
proceeding. Four alternative locations for the plant were reviewed initially,
and an environmental impact assessment was carried out on two of the locations.
As the study has progressed further, Ajos in Kemi, Finland, has been specified
as a potential location. The area was not included in the already assessed
alternatives, which is why an environmental impact assessment will now commence
separately for it. 

The advantages of the plant concept under review are that it can be duplicated
and that it is independent of the regional industrial production. The review
found Ajos in Kemi to be a suitable location based on its logistical advantages
and from the perspective of the raw material and end products. 

The biodiesel project of Metsäliitto and Vapo laid out in the feasibility study
is one of three projects submitted by the Finnish Ministry of Employment and
the Economy to the European Commission to apply for NER300 funding from the EU.
The Forest BtL project, owned by Vapo and Metsäliitto, is responsible for the
project preparations. 


Risks and uncertainties
The estimates and statements in this Interim Report are based on current plans
and estimates. They involve risks and uncertainties that may cause the results
to differ from those expressed in such statements. In the short term, the price
of and demand for end products, raw material costs, energy prices and the
exchange rate development of the euro have an effect on the results of
Metsäliitto Group. 

In March, the state enterprise Metsähallitus filed a claim for damages at the
District Court of Helsinki, demanding that Metsäliitto, UPM and Stora Enso
jointly pay a maximum of approximately EUR 340 million in compensation due to
prohibited cooperation with regard to prices in the raw wood market. The claim
is related to the 3 December 2009 decision by the Market Court which states
that the aforementioned companies have violated the act on competition
restrictions. Metsäliitto considers the claim for damages unfounded, and the
company has not recognised any provisions regarding it. 

The risks related to the Group's business have been explained more extensively
in Metsäliitto Group's Annual report for 2010. 


Near-term outlook
The wood consumption at the Group's production units is estimated to remain at
the normal level in the third quarter. Metsäliitto actively buys all timber
grades. In Finland, the focus in July and August is on stands marked for summer
felling. 

In Wood Products Industry increasing raw material prices and the challenge of
implementing corresponding price increases to end products will weaken the
result outlook for the third quarter. Cost control remains a key theme, and
sawmill operations may have to be adjusted to the situation. 

In the pulp market, seasonal weakening is to be expected and the prices are
expected to decline slightly. Furthermore, carrying out maintenance shutdowns
in the autumn will decrease the utilisation rates of the mills in the second
half of the year. 

Demand for folding boxboard and liner seems to continue to be good. M-real's
order books for folding boxboard have normalised from the exceptionally high
level of the end of last year and the beginning of this year. In April, M-real
successfully increased the prices of liner, and in May it announced a 7-9 per
cent increase in the price of folding boxboard in new agreements. In the short
term, profitability of M-real's paper business is burdened by the plans,
published in May, to eliminate losses of Alizay mill and Speciality Papers
business area. In addition, the weakened market situation of all paper grades
burdens the result. 

Demand for uncoated fine paper and speciality paper is believed to continue at
the current, rather modest level. In June, M-real announced a 5-8 per cent
price increase for office paper, effective in September. The price level of
speciality paper is likely to remain the same. 

Demand for tissue and cooking papers is estimated to continue to be steady, and
the sales of own brands are expected to increase further. Measures to improve
the result will continue, and the production costs and other additional
expenses arising will be compensated for by increasing sales prices. 

Indications of economic slowdown in the United States and Europe have weakened
the outlook in paper and pulp market. 

Metsäliitto Group's operating result excluding non-recurring items in the third
quarter in 2011 is estimated to be clearly weaker than in the second quarter.
This is due to the weakening market situation of paper and pulp, Metsä-Botnia's
investment and maintenance shutdowns as well as the planned measures at
M-real's Alizay mill and Speciality Papers business area. 


Espoo, 4 August 2011


Metsäliitto Group

Board of Directors


Further information:
Vesa-Pekka Takala, Group CFO, Metsäliitto Group, tel. +358 10 465 4260
Anne-Mari Achrén, Group CCO, Metsäliitto Group, tel. +358 10 465 4541



Unaudited

METSÄLIITO GROUP


Condensed consolidated statement    2011    2010  Change    2011    2010    2010
of comprehensive income, EUR         1-6     1-6              Q2      Q2    1-12
 mill.                                                                          
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continuing operations                                                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                              2 806   2 641     166   1 403   1 416   5 377
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other operating income                49      47       2      20      16     142
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses                -2 482  -2 304    -178  -1 255  -1 231  -4 686--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Depreciation and impairment         -189    -138     -51    -117     -60    -336
 losses                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result                     185     246     -61      51     141     497
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share of results in associated         3     -13      16       3      -7     -15
 companies                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Exchange gains and losses              0       0       0       1       2      -7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other net financial items            -75     -68      -7     -31     -34    -129
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result before income tax             113     165     -52      24     102     345
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income taxes                         -60     -63       3     -33     -40    -131
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the period                 53     102     -49      -9      62     214
from continuing operations                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discontinued operations                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result from discontinued               0       0       0       0       0       0
 operations                                                                     
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the period                 53     102     -49      -9      62     214
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow hedges                     -13      -1     -12     -11      -2      19
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Available for sale financial           8      24     -16       8       6      30
 assets                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Currency translation differences      -8      18     -26     -11       6      25
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other items                            0       0       0      -2      -3       0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax relating to                 0      -1       2       1       1      -7
 components                                                                     
of other comprehensive income                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other comprehensive income, net      -13      40     -53     -15       8      67
 of tax                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income for        41     142    -102     -25      70     281
 the period                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result attributable to:                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members of parent company             33      79     -46      19      57     170
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-controlling interests             21      23      -3     -29       5      44
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      53     102     -49      -9      62     214
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total comprehensive income                                                      
attributable to:                                                                
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members of parent company             25     103     -78       9      61     204
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-controlling interests             16      39     -23     -34       9      77
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      41     142    -102     -25      70     281
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Unaudited


Condensed consolidated balance sheet         2011   2010    2010
                                            30.6.  30.6.  31.12.
----------------------------------------------------------------
ASSETS                                                          
Non-current                                                     
Goodwill                                      531    502     503
Other intangible assets                       246    250     242
Tangible assets                             2 157  2 344   2 281
Biological assets                               9      8       8
Investments in associated companies            77     84      80
Available for sale investments                346    370     338
Non-current financial assets                   15     13      18
Deferred tax receivables                       59     64      63
                                           ---------------------
                                            3 440  3 635   3 534
                                           ---------------------
Current                                                         
Inventories                                   811    708     798
Accounts receivables and other receivables    880    923     892
Cash and cash equivalents                     301    401     440
                                           ---------------------
                                            1 993  2 032   2 131
                                           ---------------------
Assets classified as held for sale             71     21       8
----------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets                                5 504  5 688   5 672
----------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
MEMBERS' FUNDS AND LIABILITIES                                  
Members' funds                                                  
Members' funds                              1 209  1 056   1 154
Non-controlling interests                     488    507     524
                                           ---------------------
                                            1 697  1 563   1 678
                                           ---------------------
Non-current liabilities                                         
Deferred tax liabilities                      405    395     409
Post-employment benefit obligations           109    115     115
Provisions                                     37     82      48
Borrowings                                  1 875  1 563   1 927
Other liabilities                              21     36      36
                                           ---------------------
                                            2 447  2 191   2 534
                                           ---------------------
Current liabilities                                             
Provisions                                     24     27      19
Current borrowings                            488    964     471
Accounts payable and other liabilities        809    943     969
                                           ---------------------
                                            1 321  1 934   1 460
                                           ---------------------
Liabilities classified as held for sale        39      -       -
Total liabilities                           3 807  4 125   3 994
Total members' funds and liabilities        5 504  5 688   5 672
----------------------------------------------------------------




Unaudited

                                                                Equity
attributable to members of parent company 


Change in          Member   Share  Trans-    Fair  Retain  Total     Non-  Total
 members' funds        s'  premiu  lation   value      ed         control       
EUR million        capita       m  differ     and  earnin            ling       
                        l  accoun       -   other      gs         interes       
                                t   ences  reserv                      ts       
                                               es                               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members' funds        484      30       9     221     184    927      471  1 399
 1.1.2010                                                                       
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the                                         79     79       23    102
 period                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other                                                                           
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
Cash flow hedges                                4              4       -4     -1
Available for                                  10             10       14     24
 sale financial                                                                 
 assets                                                                         
Currency                               12                     12        6     18
 translation                                                                    
 differences                                                                    
Other items                                             0      0        0      0
Income tax                              2      -4             -1        0     -1
 relating to                                                                    
 components                                                                     
of other                                                                        
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other                                  14      10       0     26       16     40
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                  14      10      79    103       39    142
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
Transactions with                                                               
 owners                                                                         
Dividends paid                                        -32    -32       -4    -35
Change in              57                                     57              57
 members' capital                                                               
Change in share                                                                 
 premium account                                                                
Transfer from                                   9      -9      0               0
 unrestricted to                                                                
restricted equity                                                               
Business                                                                0      0
 arrangements                                                                   
Members' funds        541      30      23     240     222  1 056      507  1 563
 30.6.2010                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members' funds        539      31      25     247     312  1 154      524  1 678
 1.1.2011                           
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the                                         33     33       21     53
 period                                                                         
Other                                                                           
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
Cash flow hedges                               -8             -8       -5    -13
Available for                                   3              3        4      8
 sale financial                                                                 
 assets                                                                         
Currency                               -4                     -4       -4     -8
 translation                                                                    
 differences                                                                    
Other items                                             0      0        0      0
Income tax                             -1       1              0        0      0
 relating to                                                                    
 components                                                                     
of other                                                                        
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other                                  -5      -3       0     -8       -5    -13
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income total                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                  -5      -3      33     25       16     41
 comprehensive                                                                  
 income                                                                         
Transactions with                                                               
 owners                                                                         
Dividends paid                                        -32    -32      -20    -52
Change in              43                                     43              43
 members' capital                                                               
Change in share                                                                 
 premium account                                                                
Transfer from                                   1      -1      0               0
 unrestricted to                                                                
restricted equity                                                               
Business                                0                      0               0
 arrangements                                                                   
Change in shares                                                                
 of                                                                             
non-controlling                                        19     19      -31    -13
 interests                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Members' funds        582      31      21     245     330  1 209      488  1 697
 30.6.2011                                                                      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Unaudited


Condensed consolidated cash flow statement        2011  2010  2010
                                                   1-6   1-6  1-12
------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the period                               53   102   214
Total adjustments                                  296   231   495
Change in working capital                          -75  -154  -136
------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash flow arising from operations                  274   179   573
------------------------------------------------------------------
Net financial items                                -77   -81  -163
Income taxes paid                                  -53   -16  -100
------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash flow arising from operating activities    144    83   310
------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisitions                                      -103     0     0
Investments in tangible and                       -102   -42  -138
intangible assets                                                 
Divestments of assets and other                     19    22    89
------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash flow arising from investing activities   -185   -20   -49
------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in members' funds                            43    57    52
Change in shares of non-controlling interests      -41    -2   -17
Change in long-term loans                          -33  -238  -376
and other financial items                                         
Dividends paid                                     -66   -40   -40
------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash flow arising from financing activities    -98  -222  -360
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in cash and cash equivalents              -139  -160  -120
------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   440   558   558
Translation difference                              -1     3     3
Changes in cash and cash equivalents              -139  -160  -120
Cash and cash equivalents                            1     0     0
in assets classified as held for sale                             
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period         301   401   440
------------------------------------------------------------------




BUSINESS AREAS


Wood Supply                       1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                770     670    394    337     1 353
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                                16      17      8      9        25
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      16      17      8      9        25
Depreciation and impairment           -1      -2     -1     -1        -4
Operating result                      15      15      7      8        21
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      15      15      7      8        21
- ” -, % of sales                    1.9     2.2    1.8    2.4       1.6
Capital expenditure                    1       0      1      0         3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period         1 080   1 047  1 080  1 047     1 078
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Wood Products Industry            1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                502     448    264    256       902
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                                30      28     16     20        67
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      30      29     16     20        63
Depreciation and impairment          -17     -18     -8     -9       -45
Operating result                      13      10      8     11        23
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      13      11      8     11        28
- ” -, % of sales                    2.6     2.5    3.1    4.4       3.1
Capital expenditure                    5       7      3      3        16
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period         3 100   2 773  3 100  2 773     2 703
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Pulp Industry                     1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                678     656    339    368     1 365
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                               213     197    100    119       444
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     217     206    104    128       453
Depreciation and impairment          -32     -28    -15     -7       -63
Operating result                     181     169     85    112       381
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     185     167     89    110       379
- ” -, % of sales                   27.2    25.4   26.3   29.8      27.8
Capital expenditure                   16       4      6      4        14
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period           960     956    960    956       881
------------------------------------------------------------------------



Board and Paper Industry          1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                              1 345   1 278    660    676     2 605
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                               125     143     47     61       312
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     136     149     62     77       305
Depreciation and impairment         -111     -59    -80    -26      -166
Operating result                      14      84    -32     35       146
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      75      82     32     43       173
- ” -, % of sales                    5.6     6.4    4.8    6.4       6.6
Capital expenditure                   43      17     31     10        66
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period         4 699   4 946  4 699  4 946     4 538
------------------------------------------------------------------------




Tissue and Cooking Papers         1-6/11  1--6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                478      456    237    231       938
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                                30       49     13     19        94
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      30       52     13     23        99
Depreciation and impairment          -20      -24    -10    -14       -44
Operating result                      10       24      3      5        50
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      10       31      3     12        59
- ” -, % of sales                    2.1      6.9    1.4    5.3       6.3
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditure                   31       11     22      7        49
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period         3 286    3 254  3 286  3 254     3 198
-------------------------------------------------------------------------




Other operations                  1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                  2       2      1      2         3
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                                -3      -4     -2     -2        -7
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      -3      -4     -2     -2        -6
Depreciation and impairment           -1      -1      0      0        -2
Operating result                      -4      -5     -2     -2        -9
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items      -4      -5     -2     -2        -7
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditure                    4       2      2      2         2
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period           456     428    456    428       422
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Other operations include among others Metsäliitto's service and holding
functions. 




Internal sales and eliminations   1-6/11  1-6/10  Q2/11  Q2/10  QI-IV/10
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                               -969    -869   -492   -454    -1 790
------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                               -36     -45    -14    -26      -101
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     -37     -45    -15    -26       -94
Depreciation and impairment           -7      -6     -3     -3       -13
Operating result                     -43     -52    -17    -29      -114
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     -44     -51    -18    -29      -107
------------------------------------------------------------------------




Metsäliitto Group                 1-6/11  1-6/10   Q2/11   Q2/10  QI-IV/10
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                              2 806   2 641   1 403   1 416     5 377
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
EBITDA                               374     384     169     201       833
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     388     403     187     229       846
Depreciation and impairment         -189    -138    -117     -60      -336
Operating result                     185     246      51     141       497
- ” -, excl. non-recurring items     249     250     119     154       547
- ” -, % of sales                    8.9     9.5     8.5    10.9      10.2
Capital expenditure                  102      43      67      27       138
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Personnel at end of period        13 581  13 405  13 581  13 405    12 820
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

 EBITDA = Operating result before depreciation and impairment losses




Quarterly data                        2011   2011   2010   2010   2010   2010
                                       QII     QI    QIV   QIII    QII     QI
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sales                                                                        
Wood Supply                            394    376    365    318    337    333
Wood Products Industry                 264    238    224    231    256    192
Pulp Industry                          339    340    365    344    368    288
Board and Paper Industry               660    685    665    662    676    602
Tissue and Cooking Papers              237    241    246    236    231    225
Other operations                         1      1      1      1      2      0
Internal sales                        -492   -478   -475   -446   -454   -415
Sales total                          1 403  1 403  1 391  1 345  1 416  1 224
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result                                                             
Wood Supply                              7      8      4      3      8      7
Wood Products Industry                   8      5      2     11     11     -2
Pulp Industry                           85     96     98    114    112     57
Board and Paper Industry               -32     46     -4     66     35     49
Tissue and Cooking Papers                3      7     14     11      5     19
Other operations                        -2     -2     -1     -3     -2     -2
Eliminations                           -17    -26    -30    -32    -29    -23
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result total                  51    133     82    170    141    105
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
- % of sales                           3.7    9.5    5.9   12.6   10.0    8.6
Share of results in                      3      0     -1     -1     -7     -6
associated companies                                                         
Exchange gains and losses                1     -1     -1     -6      2     -2
Other net financial items              -31    -44    -27    -35    -34    -34
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result before income tax                24     89     52    128    102     64
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income tax                             -33    -26    -29    -39    -40    -24
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result from continuing operations       -9     63     23     89     62     40
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result from discontinued operations      0      0      0      0      0      0
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Result for the period                   -9     63     23     89     62     40
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------





Operating result excl. non-rec.     QII/11  QI/11  QIV/10  QIII/1  QII/10  QI/10
 items                                                          0               
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wood Supply                              7      8       4       3       8      7
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wood Products Industry                   8      5      12       5      11      0
Pulp Industry                           89     96      99     114     110     57
Board and Paper Industry                32     43      37      54      43     39
Tissue and Cooking Papers                3      7      14      13      12     19
Other operations &     -20    -28     -24     -34     -31    -25
 eliminations                                                                   
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating result total                 119    130     142     155     154     96
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- % of sales                           8.5    9.3    10.2    11.5    10.9    7.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Business acquisitions
In June, Oy Metsä-Botnia Ab redeemed its own shares by EUR 143 million from
UPM-Kymmene so that the ownership structure between the Groups, defined in the
shareholder agreement, was achieved after the arrangement. The redemption price
was accounted for as debt in the original acquisition in December 2009. When
the redemption price deviated from the estimate, the Group recognised EUR 31
million as increased goodwill. As a result of the arrangement the share of
indirect non-controlling interests in the Metsäliitto Group increased by 1.3
percentage points. 


Change in tangible assets                  QI-II/11  QI-II/10  QI-IV/10
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Book value at beginning of period             2 281     2 428     2 428
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Business acquisitions                             -         -         5
Investments                                      93        39       135
Decrease                                         -6        -5       -23
Assets classified as held for sale              -30       -19        -6
Depreciation and impairment charges            -181      -129      -314
Translation differences and other changes        -1        30        56
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Book value at end of period                   2 157     2 344     2 281
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Assets held for sale included the tangible assets of M-real's Hallein GmbH in
June 2011. In June 2010, assets held for sale included part of the old
equipment of Metsä-Botnia's Kaskinen pulp mill, shut down in 2009 (EUR 11
million), and the tangible assets of paper machine 2 at M-real's Kangas mill
(EUR 8 million). In December 2010, assets held for sale included part of the
old equipment of Metsä-Botnia's Kaskinen pulp mill, shut down in 2009. 


Commitments                                QII/11  QII/10  QIV/10
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On own behalf (incl. leasing liabilities)     724     610     719
-----------------------------------------------------------------
On behalf of associated companies               4       6       4
On behalf of others                            42       4       4
Total                                         770     620     727
-----------------------------------------------------------------



Open derivative contracts  QII/11  QII/10  QIV/10
-------------------------------------------------
Interest rate derivatives   1 067     886   1 003
-------------------------------------------------
Currency derivatives        1 284   1 708   1 660
Other derivatives             123     260     127
Total                       2 475   2 854   2 790
-------------------------------------------------

The market value of open derivative contracts at the end of the review period
was EUR -5 million (12/10: EUR -20 million). Open derivative contracts also
include closed contracts to a total amount of EUR 324 million (12V/10: EUR 522
million). 



Accounting policies
This Interim Report was prepared in accordance with the IAS 34 standard Interim
Financial Reporting and the accounting policies presented in Metsäliitto
Group's Annual Report 2010. 


Calculation of                                                                  
 key ratios                                                                     
Return on        =  (Result from continuing operations before tax + interest    
 capital             expenses, net exchange gains/losses and other financial    
 employed (%)        expenses) per                                              
                    (Balance total - non-interest-bearing liabilities (average))
Return on        =  (Result from continuing operations before tax - income      
 equity (%)          taxes) per                                                 
                    (Members' funds (average))                                  
Equity ratio     =  (Members' funds) per                                        
 (%)                (Balance total - advance payments received)                 
Net gearing      =  (Interest bearing borrowings - liquid funds -               
 ratio (%)           interest-bearing receivables) per                          
                    (Members' funds)