Stora Enso signs loan agreement with European Investment BankStora Enso Oyj Press Release 29 January 2007 at 12:00 GMTStora Enso has signed a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB) for a EUR 140 million loan facility to finance part of Stora Enso's investment in research and development in Finland and Sweden for the next five years. The facility, which is expected to be fully drawn, is the result of good long-term co-operation between EIB and Stora Enso. "We have negotiated an agreement that builds on previous transactions with EIB and offers Stora Enso attractive terms that are consistent with our borrowing practices. This facility adds another source of funding that specifically supports our R&D efforts, which is a function with increasing importance in the future," comments Stora Enso's CFO Hannu Ryöppönen. R&D in Stora EnsoStora Enso has research centres in Finland, Sweden, Germany and the USA, and strong technical organisations in the business units. They co-operate with leading forest cluster R&D providers and technology suppliers. Stora Enso's five research centres have a product focus and are strongly integrated with the business organisations. They combine product-specific expertise with scientific understanding of the manufacture, converting and end uses of the Group's products. The two InnoCentres run by Stora Enso Consumer Boards have established a new area in Stora Enso's R&D. They are an interface to the future of fibre-based packaging, and are used for developing and testing new packaging solutions together with other partners in the value chain. For further information, please contact:Hannu Ryöppönen, CFO, tel. +44 20 7016 3114Markus Rauramo, Senior Vice President, Group Treasurer, tel. +44 20 7016 3250Peter Nordquist, Vice President, Funding, tel. +44 20 7016 3266Ilkka Kartovaara, Senior Vice President, Corporate R&D, tel. +358 2046 21464 www.storaenso.comwww.storaenso.com/investorsText version / Internet version / Print / Close