STOCKHOLM, Sweden, June 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Industriforvaltnings AB Kinnevik ("Kinnevik") today announced that is has reached an agreement with Sveaskog on selling 200,000 hectares forestland, corresponding to 1/3 of Korsnas forest as well as the sawmill operation within Korsnas. The deal is expected to be completed during the latter part of August. Agreement has been reached between Korsnas and Sveaskog that will secure the supply of raw material to equivalent production volume.
Over the years, Korsnas AB has been over capitalized and has had the advantage of additional stability through exceptionally large shareholders' equity, and a very large holding of forestland. Thereby, the company has carried lower interest costs than the industry average and has also benefited from profits from its forestry holdings. Korsnas AB shall be one of the world's most efficient paper producers in the future without these advantages, showing stable profits regardless of upswings and downturns in the economy.
The Kinnevik sale of these assets is to be seen as a step towards a modernization of Korsnas that requires higher return on capital and through which, capital is made available for investments with greater rate of return. The price is estimated to a total of MSEK 2,060 and the capital gain to MSEK 750, assumed that prior write-ups are split equally over the forestland.
Stockholm June 19, 2002
INDUSTRIFORVALTNINGS AB KINNEVIK
For further information:
Vigo Carlund, CEO, Industriforvaltnings AB Kinnevik, +46 8 562 000 00
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