DGAP-News: Metsa Tissue signs a license agreement related to Georgia-Pacific–s Lotus brand in Russian consumer business

Metsa Tissue Corporation

22.06.2011 11:00
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Espoo, Finland, 2011-06-22 11:00 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —
Metsa Tissue, part of the Metsaliitto Group and a leading tissue and cooking
paper supplier Europe-wide, and Georgia-Pacific ZAO, part of Georgia-Pacific
LLC a leading producer of tissue, paper, packaging and building products, have
announced an exclusive agreement under which Metsa Tissue would obtain the
license to manufacture, sell and market Georgia-Pacific–s Lotus(r) consumer
tissue brand in Russia.

On top of the signed license contract, Metsa Tissue will purchase a selected
portion of the finished goods stock of Lotus(r) products in Russia. Metsa Tissue
will then commence the production and sale of well-known Lotus-brand products
in Russia alongside its own consumer brands, Lambi and Mola. In 2010, Lotus
consumer sales in Russia were around 20 million euros.

With the agreement, Georgia-Pacific will refocus its Russian business on the
away-from-home market. Georgia-Pacific will continue to manufacture, sell and
market its Lotus(r) consumer brand throughout the rest of the EMEA region.

The parties expect to close the deal at the end of the third quarter, after
which Metsa Tissue will initiate Lotus(r) brand production and sales to Russian
customers.

The agreement will strengthen Metsa Tissue–s position in the Russian consumer
tissue market, making it the second-biggest supplier in the branded category.
This complies with its announced intention to seek brand growth in Russia. –The
deal is a natural progression of Metsa Tissue–s commitment to developing our
business in Russia–, says Hannu Kottonen, CEO of Metsa Tissue.

Metsa Tissue entered the Russian market in 2004. Since then, the company has
established two offices in the Moscow region and in 2008 launched consumer and
away-from-home product converting operations in Naro Fominsk.

For further information, please contact:

Hannu Kottonen, CEO
Tel. +358 (0)10 46 54959
Email: hannu.kottonen@metsatissue.com

Kari Muttilainen, SVP, Strategic Projects
Tel: + 358 (0)10 46 94563
Email: kari.muttilainen@metsatissue.com

Marja-Leena Dahlskog, Communications Manager
Tel. +358 (0)10 46 55149
Email: marja-leena.dahlskog@metsatissue.com

Metsa Tissue is a leading tissue paper products supplier to households and
industrial consumers in Europe. We are also the world–s leading supplier of
baking and cooking paper products. Our main brands are Lambi, Serla, Mola,
Tento, Katrin and SAGA. We have production units based in Finland, Germany,
Poland, Russia, Slovakia and Sweden and we have some 3,200 employees. Our
turnover is EUR 940 million. Metsa Tissue is part of the Metsaliitto Group.
News Source: NASDAQ OMX

22.06.2011 Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by DGAP –
a company of EquityStory AG.
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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Language: English
Company: Metsa Tissue Corporation

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