Handelsbanken: Stora Enso to increase SEK-benchmarks
Stora Enso Oyj plans to increase the SEK-benchmark loans of SEK 3 billion which were issued in November 2000. The loans are being raised to fund some of Stora Ensos SEK requirement and to offer the holders of outstanding bonds and MTNs in Stora Enso Treasury Stockholm AB the opportunity to exchange their holdings for the more liquid SEK-benchmarks.
The loans will be issued as e-bonds, i.e. information regarding Stora Enso and the transaction as well as the possibility to post bids will be available on the Internet (www.mb.seb.se).
Stora Enso will this time, as well as it did in November 2000, offer the holders of existing bonds and MTNs in Swedish kronor, issued by Stora Enso Treasury Stockholm AB, the opportunity to exchange their holdings for newly issued SEK benchmarks, thereby increasing liquidity for these holders. The existing loans have maturities ranging from approx. 2 - 8 years and the exchanges can be made to the closest SEK benchmark in terms of maturity. The amounts for the issues and exchanges will be determined by Stora Enso in connection with the issue of the SEK benchmarks.
Stora Enso Oyj is a Finnish-registered company - the result of the merger of Finnish Enso and Swedish Stora with shares quoted on the Helsinki Exchange, the OM Stockholm Exchange and the New York Exchange. Stora Enso has a rating of BBB+ from Standard & Poors and Baa1 from Moodys.
For further information please contact <br>Peter Nordquist, Director of Funding, Stora Enso Financial Services S.A., <br>+ 32 2 627 77 60 or + 32 475 848411 or <br>Markus Rauramo, Vice President, Head of Funding, Stora Enso Financial Services S.A., <br>+ 32 2 627 77 11 or + 32 478 262117 or <br> <br>Markku Hakonen, Debt Capital Markets, Handelsbanken Trading <br>+ 46 8 701 1221 or <br>Ulf Stejmar, Head of Capital Market Sales Sweden, Nordea Markets <br>+ 46 8 614 8492 or <br>Peter Swärd, Debt Capital Markets, SEB Merchant Banking <br>+ 46 8 506 23218 <br>