Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of Ahlstrom resolved to distribute an extra dividend

The Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting of Ahlstrom Corporation, held on December 13, 2005, resolved in accordance with the proposal of the Board of Directors to distribute an extra dividend for the financial year that ended December 31, 2004.

The extra dividend of EUR 0.97 per share (approximately 35.3 MEUR in total) will be paid to the shareholders registered in the Company's shareholder register maintained by Finnish Central Securities Depository Ltd on the record day December 16, 2005. The dividend will be paid on December 23, 2005.

The Extraordinary Shareholders' Meeting also resolved that the following changes be made to the stock option program I (2001):

The share subscription period of the stock option program I was extended to expire on April 30, 2007. Moreover, it was decided to extend the period during which the option holders may demand redemption of the options, until May 31, 2007. Accordingly, the option holders shall be entitled to demand the Company to redeem the options, provided that the Company has not been listed on the stock exchange by March 31, 2007. For the redemption, the Company must receive a written redemption request from the option holder by May 31, 2007.

 

The following changes were made to the stock option program II (2001):

The share subscription period was changed to commence on January 1, 2007 for all options and to expire on April 30, 2007. The subscription period will, however, not commence until the listing of the Company has occurred. It was also decided to extend the period during which the option holders may demand redemption of the options, until May 31, 2007. Option holders shall be entitled to demand the Company to redeem the options, provided that the Company has not been listed on the stock exchange by March 31, 2007. For the redemption, the Company must receive a written redemption request from the option holder by May 31, 2007.

 

Holders of stock options in both programs (I and II) must confirm their acceptance of the new terms and conditions for the stock options in writing to the Company no later than January 31, 2006.  If the Company does not receive a holder's written confirmation by January 31, 2006, the old terms and conditions continue to apply to that holder's stock options.

 

For further information, please contact: Gustav Adlercreutz, Senior Vice President, Administration, General Counsel, tel. +358 10 888 4727

 

Ahlstrom is specialized in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance fiber-based materials. Nonwovens and specialty papers produced by Ahlstrom are used in a variety of everyday products, e.g. in filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. The company, whose heritage spans more than 150 years, employs approximately 5 400 people and serves customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on five continents. In 2004, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.57 billion. The company website is www.ahlstrom.com.