September 27, 2007 -- Stora Enso and Arauco have concluded their exclusive negotiations and reached agreement for Stora Enso to sell some assets of Stora Enso Arapoti in Brazil to Arauco. Stora Enso is selling 100% of the Arapoti sawmill, 80% of the shares of the forest holding company and 20% of the shares of the coated paper mill company to Arauco. The total consideration is USD 208 million (EUR 147 million). The divestment will have no material impact on Stora Enso's third quarter 2007 operating profit. The transactions are expected to be completed by the end of October 2007.
Stora Enso Arapoti comprises a coated paper mill company (capacity 205 000 tonnes of LWC paper per year), a sawmill (capacity 150 000 m³ per year) and a forest plantations company (30 000 hectares of plantations).
"Joint ownership of the forest holdings and paper mill will enable Stora Enso to develop co-operation with Arauco, a leading company with extensive knowledge of the region and proven business know-how in its fields. The co-operation between the two companies could eventually result in other joint projects in Latin America. Stora Enso is divesting the Arapoti sawmill and control of the forest holdings company as it is not Stora Enso's strategy to develop sawmill operations in Latin America. The forest holdings, comprising 30 000 hectares of plantations around Arapoti, are used mainly to supply the Arapoti sawmill and the coated mechanical paper mill under long-term contract," says Nils Grafström, President of Stora Enso Latin America.
Arauco is one of the largest forest industry companies in Latin America in terms of plantation area and yield of its plantations, and production of market kraft wood pulp, sawn timber and panels. It is organised into four strategic business areas: Forestry, Wood Pulp, Sawn Timber and Panels. Arauco has operations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. The company had sales of USD 2 850 million in 2006.
Estimated financial impact on Stora Enso Group
Stora Enso's annual sales are expected to decrease by EUR 25 million. The divestment is expected to have no material impact on the annual operating profit.