Brazilian competition authority approves the combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business and Munksjö AB

Ahlstrom Corporation STOCK EXCHANGE RELEASE May 23, 2013 at 8.30

Not to be distributed in or into Australia, Canada, the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa or the United States.

Ahlstrom, a global high performance fiber-based materials company, announces that the Brazilian competition authority (CADE) has approved the combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business and Munksjö AB. The approval from CADE is a further step in the competition clearance process related to the transaction.

In the first phase of the combination, the European part of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing business, LP Europe, is combined with Munksjö. The first phase of the transaction is expected to take place on May 27, 2013 at the latest, provided that for example the competition clearance from the European Commission has been obtained before that.

The approval from CADE is subject to the divestiture of Ahlstrom's abrasive paper backings and pre-impregnated decor paper lines in Osnabrück, Germany to a third party in accordance with the commitments provided to the Brazilian competition authority, which are in line with those given to the EU Commission.  

Ahlstrom has started to prepare for the divestiture process and is looking into different alternatives to divest its abrasive backings and pre-impregnated decor paper businesses. 

The divestment process does not prevent Ahlstrom from closing the first phase of the transaction, the combination of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing European business (LP Europe) with Munksjö.

For more information, please contact:
Liisa Nyyssönen
Vice President, Communications
Tel. +358 10 888 4757

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a high performance fiber-based materials company, partnering with leading businesses around the world to help them stay ahead. Our products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, medical gowns and drapes, diagnostics, wallcoverings, flooring and food packaging. We have a leading market position in the businesses in which we operate. In 2012, Ahlstrom's net sales from the continuing operations (excluding Label and Processing business) amounted to EUR 1 billion. Our 3,800 employees serve customers in 28 countries on six continents. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. More information available at www.ahlstrom.com.

Disclaimer
This document may not be distributed in or into Australia, Canada, the Hong Kong special administrative region of the People's Republic of China, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa or the United States. The information contained herein shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities referred to herein in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

This document is not an offer for sale of securities in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Ahlstrom Corporation, Munksjö AB and Munksjö Oyj have not registered, and do not intend to register, any offering of the Munksjö shares in the United States. There will be no public offering of the Munksjö shares in the United States.

This document is only being distributed to and is only directed at (i) persons who are outside the United Kingdom or (ii) to investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (the "Order") or (iii) high net worth companies, and other persons to whom it may lawfully be communicated, falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order or (iv) persons who are members or creditors of the company to which this communication relates, falling within article 43(2) of the Order (all such persons in (i), (ii) (iii) and (iv) above together being referred to as "relevant persons"). Any investment activity to which this document relates will be only available to and will be engaged in only with, relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this document or any of its contents.