Stora Enso finalises divestment of its Kotka Mills to OpenGate Capital

July 1, 2010 by timbercommunity

Stora Enso has finalised the divestment of its integrated mills at Kotka in Finland and its laminating paper operations in Malaysia to private equity firm OpenGate Capital as announced on 22 April 2010. The investment strategy of OpenGate Capital is to acquire non-core divisions and subsidiaries from global enterprises. The total consideration including earn-out is up to EUR 24 million.

The divestment is part of the plan to focus Stora Enso's business portfolio announced on 19 August 2009. As part of the transaction, Stora Enso is divesting its laminating paper, special coated magazine paper and sawmill businesses at Kotka. The transaction also includes the fully-owned laminating paper subsidiary in Malaysia, and the business operations of the Tainionkoski paper machine 7, which remains in Stora Enso's ownership, but is leased to the new owner. The Kotka mill site and its buildings are included in the divestment. Based on 2009 annual figures, the divestment is expected to reduce Stora Enso's annual sales by EUR 203 million, improve its annual operating profit by EUR 11 million and reduce its working capital by EUR 24 million. This operating profit improvement of EUR 11 million is included in the estimate of EUR 140 million to EUR 160 million profit improvement arising from the proposed closures, divestments and product swaps announced on 19 August 2009.

Kotkamills President Tuija Suur-Hamari said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with OpenGate Capital, which shares our long-term commitment to the business and pride in our 135-year heritage. Our team is eager to initiate new capital investment projects and new product developments with the support of OpenGate to ensure our future growth plans and continue to meet our customer needs around the world for years to come.”

 Kotka, Finland is the global headquarters of the company. The new Kotkamills is committed to continuing to provide customers with the utmost quality and service, and to managing and developing its business in a sustainable manner. Ongoing research and development are also key priorities, as well as maintaining the consistent superiority of its primary products for which the company is known, including its Absorbex, Imprex and Solaris brands and various wood products. The largest part of the business, the laminating paper division, is experiencing robust demand year over year and is a strong global market leader in its product categories. Kotkamills generates approximately €250 million in annual revenue and employs about 570 people.

The divestment reduces Stora Enso's annual production capacity by 180 000 tonnes of machine-finished coated paper (MFC), 200 000 tonnes of laminating paper, 40 000 tonnes of Imprex products and 230 000 m3 of sawnwood. The 570 employees affected, including 480 working at Kotka, 50 at Tainionkoski and 40 in Malaysia, are transferring to the service of the new owner. Stora Enso and OpenGate Capital made an agreement about wood supply as part of the divestment.
About OpenGate Capital
OpenGate Capital is an opportunistic private equity firm that acquires controlling interests in businesses with solid fundamentals that exhibit opportunities for operational improvements and growth. Established in 2005, OpenGate Capital has a global footprint with headquarters in Los Angeles, California and a principal office in Paris, France. OpenGate is served by a seasoned team of M&A and operating professionals that bring the skills needed to acquire, operate and build successful companies. The partners of OpenGate have executed more than 100 transactions worldwide ranging from corporate divestitures, turnaround acquisitions, industry consolidations and other special situations investments across a wide array of industries and geographic markets.