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METSÄ TISSUE ACQUIRES TENTO A.S. AND BECOMES MARKET LEADER IN THE CENTRAL-EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKET

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METSÄLIITTO GROUP         STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE


                          1.2.2006 AM 10.59


METSÄ TISSUE ACQUIRES TENTO A.S. AND BECOMES MARKET LEADER IN THE CENTRAL-EASTERN
EUROPEAN MARKET

Metsä Tissue, part of the Metsäliitto Group, has concluded an agreement to
acquire the full ownership of Tento a.s., a leading tissue paper company in
Slovakia. The acquisition requires the approval of the competition authorities.

"As manufacturing tissue paper products is one of Metsäliitto Group's core
businesses, we are happy that this agreement has been successfully completed,"
says Kari Jordan, Metsäliitto Group President and CEO, and Chairman of Metsä
Tissue Board of Directors.

Mikko Helander, President and CEO of Metsä Tissue, confirms: "The acquisition
will strengthen the position of Metsä Tissue in Europe. Tento's local market
knowledge and effective manufacturing, combined with our Polish operations, gives
Metsä Tissue a strong local presence in the Central-Eastern European region.
Together we can serve our customers even better."

"I am very pleased with Tento's progress during the last five years where we have
been able to improve our efficiency and quality," says Jozef Antosík, President
and CEO of Tento. "As part of Metsä Tissue, Tento will now have more resources to
continue developing in the fast growing Central-Eastern European markets.
Personally, I am very happy to offer my 25 years experience to support Metsä
Tissue's growth in the fast changing European tissue paper market."

Once the acquisition has been approved, Jozef Antosík will own 15% of Metsä
Tissue's shares, thus becoming the second biggest owner after Metsäliitto. He
will also assume a position as a member of Metsä Tissue Board of Directors.

There are some 150 million consumers in the Central-Eastern European markets
using nearly 700,000 tonnes of tissue paper per year. The annual consumption per
capita is between 3-7 kg and due to the increase in the standard of living is
growing by 5-10% - much faster than in Western Europe.

Tento is one of the leading tissue paper companies in Central-Eastern Europe. Its
key products are toilet paper, household towels and handkerchiefs. The Tento
brand has a leading position in the Slovakian and Czech tissue paper markets. The
company's head office and mill are located in Zilina, northern Slovakia. Tento's
turnover is EUR 90 million and it employs 600 people.

Further information:

Mikko Helander and Jozef Antosík, Tel: +421 4151 21400
Available for telephone interviews from 11.00 CET.

Metsä Tissue is a leading tissue paper products supplier to households and large-
scale consumers in Europe. It has been present in the Central-Eastern European
market since 1997, when it started its own production in Poland where it is
currently the market leader. Metsä Tissue is also the world's leading supplier of
cooking paper products. Metsä Tissue's brands are Lambi, Serla, Mola and Katrin.
With nine mills located in Germany, Finland, Sweden and Poland, it employs some
3000 people. Metsä Tissue's turnover is EUR 700 million. Metsä Tissue is part of
the Metsäliitto Group.

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