Metsäliitto Group invests 15 million euros in a birch plywood upgrading unit

Metsäliitto Group                        STOCK EXCHANGE BULLETIN

                                         8.2.2007

METSÄLIITTO GROUP INVESTS 15 MILLION EUROS IN A BIRCH PLYWOOD UPGRADING UNIT

Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest invests 15 million euros to
develop innovative birch plywood solutions for its industrial customers. It will
build a birch plywood upgrading unit that will be ready for production by the
beginning of 2008.

"Investing in new upgrading technologies is in line with our strategy, which
emphasizes the combination of Nordic premium timber with our know-how to increase
the added value that we can bring to our customers' business. Our goal is to
become a leading plywood supplier for demanding industrial end uses," says Joni
Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line, Metsäliitto Wood
Products Industry.

"The new upgrading unit serves especially the needs of the customers in the
transportation vehicle industry. We will introduce new types of plywood products
and components that are based on a new generation of overlaying technology. At
the same time, we will significantly widen the selection of sizes we can offer.
Our strategy is to combine innovative product solutions with the capability of
our machining and distribution centres to serve our clients with regard to their
product and delivery needs," Lukkaroinen continues.

The construction work for the upgrading unit will start this summer, with
operations beginning in 2008. At this time, products based on the new overlaying
technology and king-size plywood boards will be introduced.

The upgrading unit is planned to be built next to the Suolahti plywood mill,
Finland. The new unit will employ approximately 20 people.

For more information:
Joni Lukkaroinen, Senior Vice President, Plywood Business Line, Metsäliitto Wood
Products Industry, Finnforest, tel. +358 50 590 0720
Johanna Kankkunen, Director, Marketing and Communications, Metsäliitto Wood
Products Industry, Finnforest, tel. +358 50 350 4005

Metsäliitto is the tenth largest forest industry group in the world with sales of
EUR 9.3 billion and 25,000 employees. Its five business areas include wood
supply, wood products industry, pulp, paper and board and tissue and cooking
papers. The Group's parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative and subsidiaries Metsä-
Botnia, M-real and Metsä Tissue operate in 30 countries. www.metsaliitto.com

Metsäliitto Wood Products Industry, Finnforest is an efficient solution provider
offering products and services based on Nordic premium timber to targeted
customer segments. The wood raw material is supplied by the forest owners of
Metsäliitto Cooperative. Our sales total approximately 1.3 billion euro and we
have 4,400 employees in 20 countries. Our Plywood Business Line develops plywood
solutions for demanding industrial applications. The main segments are the
transportation vehicle and building industries. www.finnforest.com