Helsinki District Court dismissed the plaintiffs’ claims in the timber cases brought by cities and municipalities
On 31 October 2017, Helsinki District Court has ruled on 30 cases in which certain cities and municipalities have claimed compensation for damages from Metsäliitto Cooperative, Stora Enso Oyj and UPM-Kymmene Corporation. The plaintiffs have asserted that the defendants’ conduct on the raw timber market in Finland during 1997–2004 has caused damages to the plaintiffs in the form of underpriced raw timber.
On 31 October 2017, Helsinki District Court has ruled on 30 cases in which certain cities and municipalities have claimed compensation for damages from Metsäliitto Cooperative, Stora Enso Oyj and UPM-Kymmene Corporation. The plaintiffs have asserted that the defendants’ conduct on the raw timber market in Finland during 1997–2004 has caused damages to the plaintiffs in the form of underpriced raw timber.
The claims brought by the cities and municipalities were heard by Helsinki District Court in a joint hearing held during the winter of 2016–2017. The capital value of the damages claimed jointly and severally from the defendant companies at the joint hearing was in total EUR 5.687.491. Metsäliitto’s share of the claimed compensation was EUR 1.923.137. In addition to damages, the plaintiffs claimed interest and compensation for legal costs.
Helsinki District Court dismissed unanimously the plaintiffs’ claims and ordered the plaintiffs to compensate the defendants’ legal costs in full.
The judgements rendered on 31 October 2017 by the Helsinki District Court are not final.
For further information please contact:
Miika Arola, Group General Counsel, Metsä Group, tel. + 358 10 465 4205
Metsä Group
www.metsagroup.com
Metsä Group is a forerunner in sustainable bioeconomy utilising renewable wood from sustainably managed northern forests. Metsä Group focuses on wood supply and forest services, wood products, pulp, fresh fibre paperboards and tissue and cooking papers.
Metsä Group’s sales totalled EUR 4.7 billion in 2016, and it employs approximately 9,300 people. The Group operates in some 30 countries. Metsäliitto Cooperative is the parent company of Metsä Group and is owned by approximately 104,000 Finnish forest owners.