Sapa AB, which will be the name of the company, will be the largest soft alloy aluminium profile company in the world. Sapa AB will be consolidated into the Orkla Group as a subsidiary of Sapa Holding, which otherwise consists of the wholly-owned businesses Heat Transfer and Building System (see attachment).

 

"We are creating a global market leader in soft alloy aluminium profiles that has potential for further growth. The company will create value through close collaboration with our customers and efficient operations. We intend to build on the best of the two organisations," says Ole Enger, CEO of Sapa.

 

The new company will have a strong market position with a market share of 19 % in Europe and 27 % in North America. The new company would have had total sales of about USD 4.2 billion in 2006, and it has around 12,000 employees.

 

The merger is being carried out by both Sapa and Alcoa contributing their respective businesses as non-cash contributions in the form of shares and receivables in the joint company. Orkla is undertaking no financial transactions in the form of capital contributions, loans or issue of new equity capital in connection with the creation of the new company. The transaction will entail only a marginal change in Orkla's net interest-bearing liabilities.

 

The division of ownership in Sapa AB has provisionally been fixed at 54 % for Orkla and 46 % for Alcoa. In accordance with the agreement, the final division of ownership interests will be calculated on the basis of Orkla's and Alcoa's respective contributions to adjusted EBITDA for the last twelve months (01.06.06 - 31.05.07). The final division of ownership will be determined when audited figures for the period are available.

 

A substantial part of the business that Alcoa is contributing to the joint venture has, in the past, not been organised as independent legal entities. Financial statements for 2006 have been prepared for Alcoa's operations, based on "carve out" rules in accordance with USGAAP. This entails, among other things, the use of a number of assumptions and allocations, which means that these financial statements do not necessarily fully reflect the actual results that would have been achieved if the business had been organised as an independent legal entity.

 

 

Figures for 2006 for the two merged businesses:

* Excluding goodwill at Orkla level.

 

Orkla and Alcoa will have an equal number of representatives on the Board of Directors of Sapa AB. The Board members will comprise Dag J. Opedal and Hilde Myrberg from Orkla, in addition to which Orkla has appointed Anders G. Carlberg as its third representative on the Board. Alcoa has appointed Rudi Huber, Barbara Jeremiah and Paul Thomas. Dag J. Opedal will be elected as Chairman of the Board of Sapa AB.

 

The management of Sapa AB will consist of CEO Ole Enger, CFO Svein-Tore Holsether, Corporate Business Marius Grønningsæter, Corporate Strategy Henrik Østberg, Technology and R&D Karl Forster, Human Resources Paul Hogg, Corporate Communications Gabriella Ekelund, Business Area North America Jack Miller, Business Area North Europe Paul Warton and Business Area Central Europe Arne Rengstedt and Business Area South Europe Tor Gule.

 

The parties aim to list the company on the stock exchange (IPO) within the next 18 months.

 

Orkla will prepare an information document in accordance with the rules of the Oslo Stock Exchange. The information document will be published within 20 exchange days.

 

 

 

Contacts:

Ole Enger, CEO Sapa AB, tel. +4684595911

Svein Tore Holsether, CFO Sapa AB, tel. + 4795155222

Gabriella Ekelund, Communication Director, Sapa AB, tel. +46709530853

Rune Helland, Direktør Investor Relations, Orkla ASA, tel.+4722544411