The Board of Rottneros AB has decided to invest in closing the water loops in the bleaching plant at Vallvik Mill at a cost of SEK 90m. This investment comprises the final part of the programme of measures previously communicated in, for instance, the new share issue prospectus in 2009. The closure of the bleaching plant will significantly reduce water usage. One important consequence of this is that the biological external water purification plant that is currently being built can be kept significantly smaller. There will also be a slight reduction in the cost of power and chemicals.

The agreed investments will help Vallvik Mill to meet the extended requirements for water purification that will apply from 2012. These investments will also lead to a twenty per cent increase in capacity at the factory, from 200,000 to 240,000 annual tonnes of sulphate pulp. The current production permit is limited to 220,000 annual tonnes and a request for a temporary extended permit for 242,000 annual tonnes has already been submitted to the relevant environmental authorities.

For further information please contact:
Ole Terland, Chief Executive Officer and President, +46 8 590 010 00
Robert Jensen, Managing Director, Vallviks Bruk AB, +46 270 620 00

The wood chip cost discrepancy between pulp mills in Western and Eastern Canada was the lowest it has been in 10 years in the 4Q/10, reports the North American Wood Fiber Review

Over the past 20 years, pulp mills in Eastern Canada have consistently had higher wood fiber costs than the mills in the Western provinces with the exception of a short period in 1995, according to the North American Wood Fiber Review. In the 4Q/10, softwood chip prices had fallen in Quebec and Ontario and increased in British Columbia and Alberta resulting in the smallest cost gap between the two regions in 10 years.

The full article can be found in the attached PDF file.....

In March 2011 thousands of key people from the tissue business will gather here in Nice, France for the Tissue World 2011 Conference and Exhibition.

Please read below or click here for full registration Information.

You can register TODAY to attend as a Visitor to the Exhibition or Delegate to the Conference by clicking here:
http://online.ubmasia.com.sg/cgi-bin18/DM/t/hYwA0QoCvi0PpJ0qiB0EG or visit www.tissueworld.com.

Tissue World 2011 Conference
Kicking off the event will be the Keynote Address by
Mr. Suhas Apte Global Vice President of Sustainability Kimberly-Clark, USA

Conference theme:
Achieving a Sustainable Future in the Tissue Business
The comprehensive four-day Management and Technical Conference will cover a wide variety of critical and newsworthy topics on management, markets, energy, sustainability, technology, productivity, operations and competitiveness. It is a meeting not to be missed by anyone who works in the tissue business and wants to be in tune with the absolute latest information which can help you do your job better and more profitably.

The Management and Markets Session, covering the full day on Monday, gives you an opportunity to find out what's happening on many of the most important topics facing tissue companies.

The in-depth Technical Sessions will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday and the Yankee Dryer Reliability Workshop on Thursday morning. In total about 45-50 speeches will be included, giving delegates a complete picture of advances in all areas of the tissue making, converting and packaging processes. For the full preliminary program please click here

Attending Tissue World is a true Continuing Education Opportunity for professionals like you in the dynamic business.

• The Tissue World Conference is the world's largest meeting for the tissue industry, covering the whole spectrum of the tissue industry and attracting all positions, from machine operators to executive management. Executives, Mill and Plant Management, Operations, Technical, Research, Maintenance, Purchasing, Sales and Transport personnel like yourself are all there.
• The Tissue World Exhibition, which will be open from 29 to 31 March 2011, will be featuring around 160-180 exhibiting companies and will include all of the world's leading suppliers of equipment, machinery, supplies and solutions for the tissue business.

This gatheringsaves enormous time and effort for you as you can see all the key suppliers in one place at one time.
In short, this is truly an event not to be missed. For further information and to register to attend the Conference Sessions or to visit the Exhibition, please click here: http://online.ubmasia.com.sg/cgi-bin18/DM/t/hYwA0QoCvi0PpJ0qiB0EG or visit www.tissueworld.com.

We look forward to seeing you in Nice in March!
With best regards,

Gwen Ng

Project Director, Tissue World
UBM Asia Trade Fairs

Ahlstrom Corporation, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, announces the sale of its Groesbeck filtration business located in Groesbeck and Mexia Texas, USA, to Polyester Fibers, a portfolio company of private investment firm Empire Investment Holdings.

The value of the transaction is approximately EUR 4.5 million. This amount may increase by up to EUR 1.5 million if certain conditions and targets are met in the future. Ahlstrom will book a non-recurring loss of approximately EUR 18 million related to the divestment in its fourth-quarter financial results.

The Groesbeck operation, which employs about 100 people, makes air filtration media for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The unit has been part of Ahlstrom's Filtration Business Area's Dust Filtration unit. Ahlstrom has concluded that dust filtration materials do not fit strategically to its product portfolio.

The transaction will be effective immediately.  

This divestment together with earlier announced Wuxi and Bethune divestments complete Ahlstrom's exit from dust filtration businesses.

Further information:
Jan Lång
President & CEO
Tel. +358 10 888 4700

Tommi Björnman
Executive Vice President, Filtration
Tel. +39 0119260111

Seppo Parvi
CFO
Tel. +358 10 888 4768

Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5,800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.

Polyester Fibers in brief
Polyester Fibers is the largest and most diverse manufacturer and distributor of value-added, high-loft nonwoven materials for the bedding, furniture, filtration, craft, industrial, automotive and seasonal markets in the United States. The company, comprised of 5 business units: Tupelo Fibers, Cameo Fibers, Mountain Mist, Cumulus Fibres and Buffalo Batt, has more than 550 employees serving thousands of customers in North America, Asia and Europe.  For additional information please visit www.poly-fibers.com.

Empire Investment Holdings in brief
Empire Investment Holdings ("Empire") is a private investment firm focused on the acquisition and strategic management of non-core business units from public and private corporations. Empire adheres to a well-defined and focused acquisition strategy that is driven by the firm's history in acquiring, operating and managing over 50 corporate divestitures across several industries. Today, Empire's portfolio is comprised of 7 operating companies, serving over 10,000 customers worldwide, with an international footprint of 27 facilities encompassing over one million square feet of space and over 1,000 employees. For additional information please visit www.empireih.com.

Metso and Howe Sound Pulp & Paper have announced an agreement to retrofit the existing Babcock and Wilcox biomass power boiler at Howe Sound's integrated pulp and paper mill in Port Mellon, B.C. Metso will convert the existing hydrograte stoker boiler to a Metso HYBEX^TM Bubbling Fluidized Bed (BFB) boiler. This retrofit, scheduled for installation in June 2011, will increase the boiler's steaming rate on biomass, improve the overall reliability and operability of the boiler, reduce maintenance costs, and increase the mill's ability to produce power for the BC Hydro grid.

Funding for this project is part of the Green Transformation Program provided by the Canadian government.

As well, the conversion of the boiler is enabling Howe Sound to supply green power to the provincial electric grid.

"As a result of this investment in our boiler, we will become one of the largest independent producers of wood-fuelled renewable electricity in British Columbia," said Mac Palmiere, president and CEO of Howe Sound Pulp & Paper.

The order emphasizes Metso's strong capability as a full-scope supplier of bio-energy solutions.

Modification of the current boiler includes pressure parts, fuel and ash handling and installation. Complete automation of the boiler island includes the process automation system, emission monitoring and reporting, instrumentation and electrification retrofit.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and pulp and paper industries.

More than 200 Metso Power biomass-fired boilers, based on various firing techniques, have been supplied worldwide. The fluidized bed boiler was introduced in the late 1970s and since then over 120 Metso power boilers of this design have been supplied. This technology offers an economical, flexible, cost-effective and environmentally compliant solution for burning low heat value, high moisture bio-fuels, according to Metso.

Metso’s Board of Directors has decided on changes to Metso Executive Team. The appointments will become effective on March 1, 2011 when Matti Kähkönen starts as Metso’s President and CEO.

Andrew Benko (b. 1949) has been appointed President, Mining and Construction Technology. He is currently President, Equipment and Systems business line, Mining and Construction Technology.

Perttu Louhiluoto (b. 1964) has been appointed President, Energy and Environmental Technology. Louhiluoto is currently Senior Vice President, EMEA market area, Mining and Construction Technology.

Pasi Laine (b. 1963) has been appointed President, Paper and Fiber Technology, and Metso’s Executive Vice President and Deputy to the CEO. Laine is currently President, Energy and Environmental Technology.

Harri Nikunen (b. 1955) has been appointed Metso Group’s Chief Financial Officer. Nikunen is currently Senior Vice President, Finance, Paper and Fiber Technology.

Merja Kamppari (b. 1958), Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Metso Group, has been appointed as a member of Metso Executive Team.

Kalle Reponen (b. 1965), Senior Vice President, Strategy and M&A, will continue as a member of the Metso Executive Team.

As of March 1, 2011, all of the above mentioned individuals will report to Matti Kähkönen, who will be Chairman of the new Metso Executive Team.

Matti Kähkönen is currently Executive Vice President of Metso Corporation, Deputy to the CEO and President of Mining and Construction Technology. Earlier this year he was appointed to succeed Metso’s current President and CEO Jorma Eloranta upon his retirement on March 1, 2011.
Metso’s current CFO, Olli Vaartimo, and the current President of Paper and Fiber Technology, Bertel Langenskiöld, have agreed to support the changes in Metso’s top management during the transition period. Vaartimo and Langenskiöld will step down from the Metso Executive Team as of March 1, 2011.

”Metso has now put together a new and competent Executive Team consisting of seasoned experts from different sectors who have a solid track record of success. It is a pleasure and an honor to work with them to achieve Metso’s goals. Our strategy is on a strong foundation and the prerequisites for leading the company in a successful manner are excellent,” says Metso’s incoming President and CEO Matti Kähkönen.

CVs and photos of the individuals appointed to Metso’s Executive Team are on our website at www.metso.com.

Metso is a global supplier of sustainable technology and services for mining, construction, power generation, automation, recycling and the pulp and paper industries. We have about 27,000 employees in more than 50 countries. www.metso.com

Further information for the press:
Matti Kähkönen, Executive Vice President of Metso Corporation, and President of Mining and Construction Technology, tel. +358 20 484 2190, from 4:00-5:00 p.m.

Jorma Eloranta, President and CEO, Metso Corporation, tel. +358 20 484 3001, from 2:00-3:00 p.m.

Further information for investors:
Johanna Henttonen, Vice President, Investor Relations, Metso Corporation, tel. +358 20 484 3253

Kruger Products, Canada’s leading manufacturer of quality tissue products, today announced that an innovative heat recovery technology is now operational in its Gatineau mill, which manufactures a wide range of tissue products for consumer and industrial use. This technology will lower the mill’s total energy consumption by 11 per cent and CO2 emissions by 14.5 per cent (10,000 tonnes per year), a reduction equivalent to removing 2,500 cars from the road or planting 1.3 million trees.

This project, which represents a $4.8 million investment, is one of several initiatives that Kruger Products has implemented as part of Sustainability 2015, the Company’s five-year plan to reduce its environmental footprint. “Kruger Products is taking a leadership role in incorporating green technology in our business practices,” said Mario Gosselin, COO of Kruger Products. “Our goal is to be North America’s foremost provider of quality tissue products that embrace a commitment to sustainability for future generations and with innovations such as Gatineau’s new heat recovery technology, we are well positioned to continue to lead the way in the future.”

Kruger Products partnered with Thermal Energy International to develop and install the heat recovery technology and the project was financed in part by Québec’s Agence de l'efficacité énergétique, which granted $1.9 M in financial assistance through its Heavy Oil Consumption Reduction Program.

How the technology works
The central heat recovery system will capture hot, humid air from two of the mill’s three paper machines and reuse it to heat process water as well as the facility itself during the winter. Through the technology, the hot exhaust is pulled from the two paper machines and forced through an energy recuperation tower, into which water is sprayed. The energy is drawn from the exhausted air to the water. This water is filtered and circulated through separate heat exchangers to transfer the energy to the process. The third paper machine is already using heat recovery technology.

About Kruger Products L.P.
Kruger Products is Canada’s leading tissue manufacturer and serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere, Purex, SpongeTowels, Scotties and White Swan, as well as away-from-home products for industrial and commercial use across Canada.
The Company recently launched Sustainability 2015, an initiative to reduce its overall energy consumption and emissions by 15 per cent by streamlining manufacturing processes and implementing an array of energy-reduction and efficiency initiatives. For complete information on Sustainability 2015, visit www.krugerproducts.ca/sustainability.

About Kruger Inc.
Founded in Canada in 1904, Kruger Inc., the parent company of Kruger Products, is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibres, green and renewable energy, and wines and spirits. It is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America. Kruger operates facilities in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the United States.

Stora Enso has signed a new EUR 700 million committed credit facility agreement with a syndicate of 16 banks, refinancing the existing EUR 1 400 million facility. The new facility matures in January 2014, and will be used as a backup for general corporate purposes. The loan has no financial covenants. The margin is based on a ratings grid, and at the current rating of BB/Ba2 the margin is 1.75% p.a. over Euribor.

Bookrunners and Mandated Lead Arrangers for the transaction are BNP Paribas, Citi, Goldman Sachs International, Nordea and The Royal Bank of Scotland PLC.

Mandated Lead Arrangers are Banc of America Securities Limited, Barclays Capital, Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Deutsche Bank AG London Branch, DnB NOR Bank ASA, Handelsbanken, HSBC Bank plc, JP Morgan plc, Pohjola Bank plc, SEB and UBS Investment Bank.

"We are pleased with the continued support and commitment of our relationship banks. The rationale for refinancing was to take advantage of prevailing market conditions and prolong the maturity," says Jyrki Tammivuori, SVP, Group Treasurer.

For further information, please contact:

Jyrki Tammivuori, SVP, Group Treasurer, tel. +358 2046 21043
Ulla Paajanen-Sainio, Head of Investor Relations, tel. +358 2046 21242

www.storaenso.com
www.storaenso.com/investors

Stora Enso is a global paper, packaging and wood products company producing newsprint and book paper, magazine paper, fine paper, consumer board, industrial packaging and wood products. The Group is the world leader in forest industry sustainability. We offer our customers solutions based on renewable raw materials. Our products provide a climate-friendly alternative to many non-renewable materials, and have a smaller carbon footprint. Stora Enso is listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and the FTSE4Good Index. Stora Enso employs some 27 000 people worldwide, and our sales in 2009 amounted to EUR 8.9 billion. Stora Enso shares are listed on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki (STEAV, STERV) and Stockholm (STE A, STE R). In addition, the shares are traded in the USA as ADRs (SEOAY) in the International OTCQX over-the-counter market.

The conference is the first step towards the establishment of an FSC National Office (NO) in Mozambique and the development of a national standard for FSC forest certification in the African country. This project delivers on Goal 5 of the FSC Global Strategy – to strengthen the FSC Global Network – by testing how well founded FSC offices from the North can support capacity-building of sister organizations in the South.

FSC Denmark is supporting FSC Mozambique in establishing AGREF - Association for Responsible Forestry in Mozambique (Associação pela Gestão Resposável das Florestas em Moçambique) with funding from the Danish Government. AGREF aims to promote and enhance responsible forestry in Mozambique through FSC certification and will become the FSC NO in the country.

To attend the conference, please write an email to Ms. Kümmel Nielsen with name, title, e-mail and phone number of the participant.