Metsä Group’s and Itochu’s transaction has been closed today

Metsä Group Stock Exchange Release 3 May 2012 at 4.30 pm EET


On 11 April 2012, Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative, Metsä Board and Japanese Itochu Corporation agreed on a transaction in which Itochu will acquire a 24.9 per cent strategic stake in Metsä Fibre Corporation. The transaction was subject to the approvals by the German competition authorities. The required approvals have now been granted, and the transaction has been closed today.

After the transaction, Metsäliitto Cooperative owns 50.2 per cent, Metsä Board 24.9 per cent and Itochu Corporation 24.9 per cent of the total share capital of Metsä Fibre.


METSÄ GROUP
Group Communications

For further information, please contact:
Esa Kaikkonen, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Metsä Group, tel. +358 10 465 4749
Reeta Kaukiainen, Senior Vice President, Communications, Metsä Group, tel. +358 50 522 0924


www.metsagroup.com

Metsä Group is a responsible forest industry group whose products are part of people’s everyday life and promote sustainable well-being. Metsä Group produces high-quality products mainly from renewable Nordic wood. The Group’s core businesses areas are tissue and cooking papers, board and paper, pulp, wood products as well as wood supply. Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 5.3 billion in 2011, and it employs approximately 12,500 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries.