12 Dec 2007

Norske Skog's activities in Asia

In light of statements made by individual shareholders concerning Norske Skog's activities in Asia, the company wants to ensure that identical and complete information relating to this subject is made available to the market.
 
The management has for some time now been working on various structural solutions for the company. As part of this work, the option of restructuring and a separate stock exchange listing of the Asian activities is being considered.  The company is in dialogue with financial advisors with leading positions in the region. Due to the current market conditions in the region, in China in particular, the management considers a pure sale to be an unattractive option and believes that a successful stock exchange listing depends on other structural measures being implemented at the same time.  This work has a high priority, but it must be expected that reaching a good, comprehensive structure for the activities in Asia will take some time.
 
Norske Skog's activities in Asia comprise newsprint mills in South Korea, China and Thailand. The production capacity is approx. 1.6 million tonnes, 25 per cent of Norske Skog's total capacity.
 
Oxenøen, 12 December 2007
 
NORSKE SKOG
 
Corporate communications