Displaying items by tag: ahlstrom

Ahlstrom, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, announces that it has completed the divestment of Ahlstrom Altenkirchen GmbH in Germany to Interface Solutions.

Ahlstrom announced earlier this month the sale of the Altenkirchen site to Interface Solutions, a portfolio company of Pennsylvania-based family owned private equity fund Susquehanna Capital. The value of the transaction is approximately EUR 6.5 million. Ahlstrom will book a non-recurring gain of approximately EUR 5 million from the sale in its fourth-quarter 2010 financial result.

For further information, please contact
Seppo Parvi
CFO+358 10 888 4768

Ahlstrom, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, announces that it has completed the divestment of three dust filtration product lines in Bethune, SC, USA, to Andrew Industries.

Ahlstrom announced earlier this month the sale of the three production lines in Bethune and its Wuxi plant in China to Andrew Industries. The divestment of the Wuxi plant, which also makes dust filtration material, is anticipated to be completed in the first quarter of 2011.
 
For further information, please contact:
Seppo Parvi
CFO
+358 10 888 4768

Ahlstrom in brief
 
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5,800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.

Ahlstrom, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty, announces price increases in the first quarter of 2011 for its filtration materials globally as a consequence of the continued rise in raw material costs such as chemicals and energy.

Even though the price of standard pulp has stabilized in the late 2010, prices of specialty fibers, energy and chemicals have continued to rise steadily over recent months.

The price increase will affect filtration materials produced by Ahlstrom globally. The level and timing of the increase will depend on the markets served, the raw material content of the product and the agreements in place. The increase will be up to 12%. Specific details will be discussed with each customer individually by the appropriate sales teams in the coming days.

Further information
Tommi Björnman
Executive Vice President, Filtration
Tel. +39 0119260111, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Gary Blevins
Vice President, Filtration
Tel. +1 864 234 8145, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Ahlstrom Corporation, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, announces the sale of its Groesbeck filtration business located in Groesbeck and Mexia Texas, USA, to Polyester Fibers, a portfolio company of private investment firm Empire Investment Holdings.

The value of the transaction is approximately EUR 4.5 million. This amount may increase by up to EUR 1.5 million if certain conditions and targets are met in the future. Ahlstrom will book a non-recurring loss of approximately EUR 18 million related to the divestment in its fourth-quarter financial results.

The Groesbeck operation, which employs about 100 people, makes air filtration media for the heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) industry. The unit has been part of Ahlstrom's Filtration Business Area's Dust Filtration unit. Ahlstrom has concluded that dust filtration materials do not fit strategically to its product portfolio.

The transaction will be effective immediately.  

This divestment together with earlier announced Wuxi and Bethune divestments complete Ahlstrom's exit from dust filtration businesses.

Further information:
Jan Lång
President & CEO
Tel. +358 10 888 4700

Tommi Björnman
Executive Vice President, Filtration
Tel. +39 0119260111

Seppo Parvi
CFO
Tel. +358 10 888 4768

Distribution:
NASDAQ OMX Helsinki
Main media
www.ahlstrom.com

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5,800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.

Polyester Fibers in brief
Polyester Fibers is the largest and most diverse manufacturer and distributor of value-added, high-loft nonwoven materials for the bedding, furniture, filtration, craft, industrial, automotive and seasonal markets in the United States. The company, comprised of 5 business units: Tupelo Fibers, Cameo Fibers, Mountain Mist, Cumulus Fibres and Buffalo Batt, has more than 550 employees serving thousands of customers in North America, Asia and Europe.  For additional information please visit www.poly-fibers.com.

Empire Investment Holdings in brief
Empire Investment Holdings ("Empire") is a private investment firm focused on the acquisition and strategic management of non-core business units from public and private corporations. Empire adheres to a well-defined and focused acquisition strategy that is driven by the firm's history in acquiring, operating and managing over 50 corporate divestitures across several industries. Today, Empire's portfolio is comprised of 7 operating companies, serving over 10,000 customers worldwide, with an international footprint of 27 facilities encompassing over one million square feet of space and over 1,000 employees. For additional information please visit www.empireih.com.

Ahlstrom Corporation, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, has today signed an agreement to exit its Sealing & Shielding business unit through the sale of Ahlstrom Altenkirchen GmbH in Germany. The acquirer is Interface Solutions, a portfolio company of Pennsylvania-based family owned private equity fund Susquehanna Capital.

The value of the transaction is approximately EUR 6.5 million.

Ahlstrom Altenkirchen GmbH, which is part of Ahlstrom's Label and Processing Business Area, is located in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. The plant has two paper machines and employs approximately 130 people. Its products include gasket and heat shield materials for the automotive industry and calender bowl materials for the paper industry.

Products manufactured by the Altenkirchen site differ technically from the other nonwoven and specialty paper products made by Ahlstrom and therefore do not fit strategically with the company's portfolio. Interface Solutions is a global leader in gasket materials for the automotive industry.  

It is anticipated that the transaction will be completed by the end of 2010. Ahlstrom will book a non-recurring gain of approximately EUR 5 million from the transaction in its fourth-quarter financial results. The completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Ahlstrom's Label and Processing Business Area will continue to operate six production sites in France, Germany, Italy and Brazil.

For further information, please contact:
Jan Lång
President and CEO
Tel. +358 10 888 4700

Patrick Jeambar
Executive Vice President, Label and Processing
Tel. +33 4 7645 3515

Seppo Parvi
CFO
Tel. +358 10 888 4768

Ahlstrom Corporation, a leading developer and producer of nonwovens and specialty papers, has today signed a joint venture agreement with Longkou Yulong Paper Co. Ltd, a paper producer based in Longkou, in the province of Shandong in northeastern China. The parties have agreed to establish a new manufacturing facility in the Zhuyouguan Industrial Park in Longkou for the production of medical papers used e.g. in sterilization wraps, and masking tape substrates for the building industry in the Asian market.

The parties have agreed that Ahlstrom will have a 60% share in the joint venture and Longkou Yulong Paper will have a 40% share. The total estimated investment amounts to EUR 21.9 million, of which Ahlstrom will invest EUR 13.1 million. The start-up of the new plant is planned for the summer of 2012.

Ahlstrom President & CEO Jan Lång regards the joint venture as an important step in the implementation of Ahlstrom's growth strategy in Asia, and of mutual benefit for both companies.

"We are very pleased to have Yulong Paper as our joint venture partner in China, as the company is very well established in the local paper market and has strong expertise in the paper industry. Through this joint venture, we will be able to serve our local customers in China and Asia in the growing healthcare and building markets", Jan Lång states.

The new site will be part of Ahlstrom's Food & Medical Business Area, which accounted for approximately 20% of the Group's net sales in the third quarter of 2010. The agreement is still subject to the necessary approvals by the authorities and the fulfillment of general closing conditions.

Ahlstrom currently generates about 10 percent of its annual net sales in Asia, and has stated that its strategic target is to grow its Asian footprint markedly from the current level. As part of implementing this growth strategy, Ahlstrom acquired the automotive filter manufacturer Shandong Puri Filter & Paper Products Ltd, based in Binzhou, Shandong, in September.

In addition to the new plant to be established, Ahlstrom has four other manufacturing plants and twelve sales offices in Asia.

Further information:
Ahlstrom Corporation
Risto Anttonen, Deputy to the CEO, tel. +358 10 888 4166
Jan Lång, President & CEO, tel. +358 10 888 4700
Seppo Parvi, CFO, tel +358 10 888 4768

Ahlstrom Corporation's Board of Directors has today approved specified long-term financial targets for the Group, supporting its profitable growth strategy.

The Group's minimum target on return on capital employed remains at 13 percent over the cycle and Ahlstrom's objective is to reach the target by 2012. With the current balance sheet structure, an operating profit margin of 7 percent or above is required to reach the target. In July-September 2010, ROCE was 6.0 percent and 7.4 percent in the first nine months of the year.

Ahlstrom maintains its gearing ratio target at 50-80 percent. The figure stood at 47.7 percent as of September 30, 2010.

As an additional target, Ahlstrom targets annual net sales growth of at least 5 percent at constant currency rates, including acquisitions.

For further information, please contact:
Jan Lång
President & CEO
Tel. +358 10 888 4700

Seppo Parvi
CFO
Tel. +358 10 888 4768

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5,800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.

Ahlstrom Corporation will publish its interim report for January-September 2010 on Tuesday, October 26, 2010 approximately at 12 a.m. Finnish time (CET +1).

Ahlstrom's President & CEO Jan Lång and CFO Seppo Parvi will present the 2010 third-quarter results in Finnish at a press and analyst conference in Helsinki on October 26 at 2 p.m. Finnish time. The conference will take place at event arena Bank, address Unioninkatu 20, 2^nd floor. The name of the meeting room will be displayed on the display board in the lobby.

In addition, a conference call for analysts and investors will be held in English on the same day at 4 p.m. Finnish time. To participate in the teleconference, please dial +358 (0)9 2319 4250 in Finland or +44 (0)20 7806 1953 outside Finland a few minutes before the conference begins. The confirmation code is 7880049.

The event can also be viewed as a live audio webcast at www.ahlstrom.com. Registration is required. It is possible to participate in the Q & A session via teleconference or online.

An on-demand audio webcast of the conference will be available on Ahlstrom's website for twelve months after the call.

The presentation material will be available at www.ahlstrom.com > Investors > Reports and presentations > 2010 after the interim report has been published.

Ahlstrom Corporation
Corporate Communications

For further information, please contact:
Juho Erkheikki
Financial communications
Tel. +358 10 888 4731

Ahlstrom Group, a leading developer and manufacturer of nonwovens and specialty papers, today celebrates the inauguration of its new facility in Binzhou, Shandong province, in northeastern China.The plant produces transportation filtration materials and currently employs 170 people. Ahlstrom acquired the plant from Purico Group which it announced earlier this month.

According to Ahlstrom's President & CEO Jan Lång the acquisition plays a significant role in Ahlstrom's growth strategy in Asia.

"In addition to Ahlstrom´s strong footprint in Europe and the Americas, we have lately started to establish a solid manufacturing platform in Asia as well. Ahlstrom´s strengthened presence in China will also help us to better serve our global customers based in the area, increase our market share and build a platform for further growth in the region. As China is among the world's fastest growing major economies and the the industry of filtration media for transportation is growing at an annual rate of over 10%, the market in the country is expected to grow significantly in the coming years", Jan Lång says.

In addition to the Binzhou plant, Ahlstrom has three other manufacturing sites in Asia: one in Hyun Poong, South Korea, one in Mundra, India, and one in Wuxi, China.The Hyung Poong plant also manufactures filtration materials for automotive industry where as the Mundra plant produces nonwoven fabrics for the medical market and the Wuxi site for dust filtration. In addition to the manufacturing plants, Ahlstrom has sales offices in nine major cities in Asia. Altogether, Asia currently accounts for about 10% of the Group's net sales.

Binzhou region in brief

·         The town of Binzhouis located on the northern part of the Shandong province, on the northern bank of the Yellow River

·         The population of Binzhou town is around 3,600,000

·         Several international companies have manufacturing presence in Binzhou

Further information:
Ahlstrom Group
Jan Lång, President & CEO, tel. +358 10 888 4700
Tommi Björnman, Executive Vice President, Filtration, tel. +39 011 926 0111
Roberto Boggio, Vice President, Filtration, Asia, tel. +82  53  611  0491/92

Ahlstrom, a global leader in nonwovens and specialty papers, announces a change in its Executive Management Team. Deputy of President and CEO Risto Anttonen, who is responsible for business development, will retire by December 31, 2010. His responsibilities will be transferred to other members of the Executive Management Team after Anttonen's retirement.

Risto Anttonen joined Ahlstrom in 1991 and has held several senior executive positions in the company.

"I would like to thank Risto for his excellent contribution to Ahlstrom and wish him the best of success in the future," says Jan Lång.

Further information:
Jan Lång
President & CEO
tel. +358 10 888 4700

Ahlstrom in brief
Ahlstrom is a global leader in the development, manufacture and marketing of high performance nonwovens and specialty papers. Ahlstrom´s products are used in a large variety of everyday applications, such as filters, wipes, flooring, labels, and tapes. Based upon its unique fiber expertise and innovative approach, the company has a strong market position in several business areas in which it operates. Ahlstrom's 5,800 employees serve customers via sales offices and production facilities in more than 20 countries on six continents. In 2009, Ahlstrom's net sales amounted to EUR 1.6 billion. Ahlstrom's share is quoted on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. The company website is at www.ahlstrom.com.