Stora Enso Oyj - Company Announcement

Stora Enso to divest its Barcelona mill in Spain

Helsinki, Finland, 2015-07-27 15:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- STORA ENSO OYJ
STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE 27 July 2015 at 16.00 EET 


Stora Enso has signed an agreement to divest its Barcelona mill, which produces
recycled-fibre based consumer board, to the private equity fund Quantum. The
transaction is in line with Stora Enso's strategy to focus its consumer board
offering on high quality virgin-fibre products. 

The initial cash consideration for the divestment of the shares is
approximately EUR 10 million, subject to customary closing day adjustments. The
transaction has no material income statement impact and is expected to be
completed in the fourth quarter of 2015, subject to regulatory approvals. 

“Stora Enso is focusing its consumer board offering on high quality
virgin-fibre products. The Barcelona mill is the only recycled-fibre based mill
in our Consumer Board division. Despite positive results development in recent
months, the Barcelona mill requires further development effort and investment
if it is to remain on a profitable path. I believe that the mill can operate
more efficiently under the new ownership,” says Jari Latvanen, Head of Consumer
Board division. 

Based on the annual figures for 2014, the divestment is expected to reduce
Stora Enso's annual sales by EUR 117 million and simultaneously decrease Stora
Enso's annual board production capacity by approximately 195 000 tonnes. The
transaction does not have material impact on Stora Enso's operational EBIT and
cash flow going forward and it will improve operational EBIT and EBITDA margins
slightly. The Barcelona mill employs approximately 220 people. 

About Quantum
Quantum Capital Partners is a German Private Equity fund headquartered in
Munich. Quantum focuses on corporate spin-offs and carve-outs in which the
acquisition target has a turnover between EUR 20 and 500 million and can
benefit from Quantum's operational experience. Quantum has completed a series
of successful transactions with leading global corporations such as BOSCH, BASF
and AIRBUS Group. Quantum's current portfolio consists of seven companies, with
a combined turnover of some EUR 350 million. Quantum commands a newly
established fund of more than EUR 57 million and is an active investor in the
industry, having completed five transactions in 2014 and two in 2015.
www.quantum-capital-partners.com/ 

For further information, please contact:
Ulrika Lilja, EVP Global Communications, tel. +46 72 221 9228
Ulla Paajanen-Sainio, SVP Investor Relations, tel. +358 40 763 8767

Stora Enso is a leading provider of renewable solutions in packaging,
biomaterials, wood and paper on global markets. Our aim is to replace
non-renewable materials by innovating and developing new products and services
based on wood and other renewable materials. We employ some 27 000 people in
more than 35 countries, and our sales in 2014 were EUR 10.2 billion. Stora Enso
shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Stockholm (STE A,
STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY) on the
International OTCQX over-the-counter market. www.storaenso.com 

STORA ENSO OYJ