Metsäliitto to sell HSL Elements to PW Interior

01/09/2006

Metsäliitto Group has signed a contract for the sale of the business operations
of HSL Elements (formerly Heinolan Seinälinja Oy) to PW Interior Oy. HSL
Elements is the leading manufacturer of removable intermediate wall systems in
Finland, and its sales in 2005 amounted to EUR 6.4 million. 

The 27 people employed by the production unit, located south of the town of
Heinola, will transfer to the new employer as continuing employees with the
terms of their employment remaining unchanged. 

“By selling HSL Elements, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry continues to focus
on its core businesses and their development,” says Ole Salvén, Group Executive
Vice President, Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry (Finnforest). 

“Our core business is to supply mainly wood-based products and solutions. The
intermediate wall system provided by HSL Elements is a building solution for
removable office premises, in which wood is used as the wall frame material,
while glass and installation services form the largest part of the overall
solution.” 

Finnforest, presently Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, purchased Heinolan
Seinälinja Oy in 2001. 

PW Interior Oy is a company owned by Puustelli Group Oy, a company belonging to
the Finnish Group Harjavalta Oy, and the Estonian Wallenium Group Oü, a company
also manufacturing intermediate wall systems. PW Interior Oy supplies
intermediate wall systems under the Wallenium brand, as well as Puustelli
Office furniture to the Finnish market. As a result of the sale, PW Interior
becomes the market leader for intermediate wall systems in Finland. 

The business operations of HSL Elements will be transferred to PW Interior on 1
September 2006. 

Further information:
Esa Kosonen, Director of Building Systems, Finland, Metsäliitto Wood Products
Industry (Finnforest), tel. +358 50 598 9562 
Johanna Kankkunen, Director, Marketing and Communications, Metsäliitto Wood
Products Industry (Finnforest), tel. +358 50 350 4005