Heinzel Group acquires Europapier AG from Mondi Group

On 05 May, 2010 Mondi Group has signed an agreement to sell Europapier AG to Heinzel Group. The deal is subject to approval by antitrust authorities. It has been agreed that the new owner, Heinzel Group, will take over 100% of Europapier's shares and therefore be the sole shareholder.
 
Heinzel Group is a leading market pulp producer in CEE and a strong global trading company for pulp and paper. The company achieved a total sales volume of 1.7 million tons and has 22 offices worldwide. Heinzel Group's production facilities are located in Austria and Estonia.
 
From the total sales volume around 750,000 tons are coming from paper and packaging trade. Together with Europapier the Group becomes a leading trading and merchant company in CEE with a total volume of around 1.2 million tons sales volume.
 
"We welcome Heinzel Group's strategy to have a strong operation in Austria and CEE and to take steps towards continuing its growth strategy", said Mr. Werner Hartmann, Member of the Europapier Board, when asked about the new developments in the ownership of Europapier.
 
The new ownership will strengthen Europapier's leading role in this region.
The merger will allow Europapier to gain access to an even broader range of products. Customers can now choose from a Europe wide product range, thus making Europapier an even more attractive one-stop-shop partner. In the current world the company will be a more reliable and sustainable partner.
 
"Heinzel Group's strategy is to expand their key role in pulp, paperboard and paper trading in Western Europe, emerging Eastern European markets, North Africa, Middle East and Asia. Europapier's good market position makes a good fit with Heinzel Group", explained Mr. Alfred H. Heinzel, President and CEO of Heinzel Group. "Furthermore this strategic acquisition will enhance our geographical coverage and strengthen our existing position in a number of countries. Europapier is a well-established and a well managed company, which will bring valuable competences into Heinzel Group. Together we will develop our customer offerings in the region and strive to further improve our already good customer relations."
 
The agreement is still subject to approval by antitrust authorities. In the meantime there will be no changes at Europapier or Heinzel Group. Both companies will continue to act independently of each other and business will continue as usual.
 
Europapier AG is an internationally operating group and aspires to perform above industry standards in producing long-term, sustainable profits.
By sales volume it is the most important paper merchant in CEE and a pioneer in this market. Europapier AG employs about 770 people and has a sales volume of around 445,000 tons.
 
Heinzel Group is a leading market pulp producer in CEE and a global trading company for pulp and paper. The company has a total sales volume of around 1.7 million tons. Heinzel Group has 22 sales offices worldwide and production facilities in Austria and Estonia.