M-REAL TO CLOSE THE PRESENT MARKET PULP
M-real Corporation Stock Exchange Bulletin 10.10.2003 at 14.00 M-REAL TO CLOSE THE PRESENT MARKET PULP BUSINESS AT THE LIELAHTI CTMP MILL AND TO START RATIONALISATION NEGOTIATIONS M-real will close its present market pulp business at the Lielahti CTMP (chemi-thermo mechanical pulp) mill and will use the entire production of the Lielahti CTMP mill in its own paperboard manufacture at the Tako Board Mill. Accordingly, M-real will start rationalisation negotiations with personnel representatives concerning combining of the Lielahti CTMP mills operations with those of the Tako Board Mill in Tampere. This will mean winding up the operations of the Lielahti debarking plant and the production equipment required in the manufacture of fluff pulp in 2004. At the same time, the operation of the Lielahti power plant will undergo a changeover because bark fuel will no longer be available at Lielahti. The fiberline and drying machine will remain in operation at the CTMP mill. The negotiations concern the entire personnel. The estimated staff reduction requirement is about 90 employees. The mill has a present annual capacity of 100,000 tonnes. At present the mill employs 150 people. M-REAL CORPORATION Aarre Metsävirta Senior Executive Vice President For additional information, contact: Lasse Wikström, Mill Manager, tel. +358 50 307 1792 Jukka Kettunen, Vice President, Technology, tel. +358 50 598 8506