Södra Timber has acquired all shares in Romerike Trelast, located outside Oslo. The company will operate independently, but will be renamed Södra Timber AS.

Romerike Trelast comprises a sawmill with an annual production of 60,000 cubic metres of sawn timber, a planing mill and a pressure treatment plant. Romerike is situated 40 kilometres north of Oslo, close to Gardermoen Airport, and is currently owned by Romeriks Almenningene and Viken Skog.

Romerike was relocated to its current site in 1995 in connection with the construction of Gardermoen Airport. Romerike has approximately 35 employees and annual sales of about NOK 110 million.

Södra already has operations in Norway, including two pulp mills, a forestry organisation, Södra Interiör and house sales through Trivselhus. The acquisition of Romerike will provide Södra with a platform for sawn and planed timber.

"The acquisition is a logical step to achieve a cohesive forest-industrial structure in Norway. We have a long-term ambition for the acquisition and it strengthens our presence in one of the world's best timber market," says Leif Brodén, Södra's CEO.

Södra Interiör AS will manage and coordinate sales and logistics using its existing sales organisation. The aim is to further develop Romerike into a centre for Södra Timber and Södra Interiör in Norway.

"With this acquisition, we can offer a complete timber range with everything from construction timber to mouldings and flooring. By coordinating sales and logistics with Södra Interiör, we can offer a comprehensive service concept to our building-materials and industrial customers in Norway," says Peter Nilsson, President of Södra Timber.

The transaction is pending final approval by the Norwegian competition authority, which is expected to take between three and five weeks.